Geographies of care, migration and family relations,

Enquiries and applications are invited for a PhD project in the area of geographies of children, youth and families, geographies of care and/or migration studies. The project should encompass one or more of the following themes: Caring relations in transnational families; Young carers in refugee and other migrant families; Responses to family deaths; Geographies of wellbeing and spaces of care among refugees.

Candidates are invited to contact Prof. Ruth Evans: Email: r.evans@reading.ac.uk to discuss ideas. You can read more about Prof Evans’ research here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ges/staff/ruth-evans ) and publications here: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4599-5270

Funding: Prof Evans is open to discussing project ideas with self-funded applicants, and is also keen to support the preparation of applications to funded competitions. This could include applications to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc). Further information about this funding scheme can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/doctoral-researcher-college/funding/phd-studentships/esrc-sedarc-dtp

Please note, SEDarc applications must relate to one of the following: challenge-led themes: Healthy thriving communities; Inclusive economic growth; Living sustainably; Secure, effective and trusted institutions; and Transformative technologies for society. Students who have already commenced their Doctoral study may not apply for this funding. With regard to deadlines, please note that prospective applicants should follow the instructions listed at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/doctoral-researcher-college/funding/phd-studentships/esrc-sedarc-dtp including completing the expression of interest form by the deadline of 16 December 2024.

Students undertaking a PhD at the University of Reading have access to and benefit from a range of training and skills development opportunities through the Doctoral and Researcher college and the Reading Researcher Development Programme (further information here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/doctoral-researcher-college/training-and-development).

About Human Geography at Reading:  Prospective applicants would join a vibrant human geography research community. Human geographers at Reading are based in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science (GES): https://www.reading.ac.uk/ges/research within the School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science (SAGES). The Human Geography Research Cluster (HGRG): https://www.reading.ac.uk/ges/research/human-geography-research-cluster focuses on addressing critical 21st Century challenges around human communities and their interactions with the environment within an increasingly globalised world. The Cluster foregrounds ‘real world’ relevance and stakeholder engagement, taking a highly interdisciplinary and participatory approach. The Cluster centres social impacts and research that is transformative for participants, communities, practitioners, policymakers, students, and other ‘publics’.

Human geographers at the University of are also active in the Global Development Research Division. The division conducts research that promotes social justice and equality, while raising awareness of the global challenges surrounding the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Eligibility: Candidates should have a degree in Human Geography or a cognate subject, and ideally should possess a Master’s degree relevant to the specific project. Further information can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ges/phd/how-to-apply-for-a-phd.

Candidates developing applications for a specific funding scheme should also check the funder’s eligibility criteria (e.g. SEDarc: https://www.reading.ac.uk/doctoral-researcher-college/funding/phd-studentships/esrc-sedarc-dtp) 

https://research.reading.ac.uk/transnational-families/