Graduate Teaching Assistant – Department of Accounting, Economics & Finance

PhD Scholarships with Graduate Teaching Assistantships 

School of Social Sciences, Department of Accounting, Economics & Finance. 

We have 3 opportunities available. 

The School seeks to award a number of PhD scholarships with associated Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) positions to outstanding doctoral candidates with clear potential to excel as academic teachers and researchers. The GTA PhD scholarship is a four-year fixed term position: Students undertake a PhD on a 0.75 FTE basis alongside a 0.25 FTE teaching contract. Remuneration consists of a PhD stipend of £14,427 per annum (0.75 of the standard UKRI rate), plus a salary of £7,401. In addition, PhD tuition fees will be covered. 

About Our Team 

Our team in the Department of Accounting, Economics & Finance (AEF) is a dynamic blend of dedicated researchers, passionate about pushing the disciplinary boundaries of accounting, economics, and finance, with a keen focus on green finance, energy economics, and sustainable development. Our interdisciplinary group brings together experts from diverse backgrounds, fostering innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. 

Led by esteemed professors and experienced researchers, our team boasts a wealth of experience in conducting groundbreaking studies that bridge theory and practice. From analyzing the economic impact of climate change to exploring sustainable agricultural practices and pioneering green finance solutions, we are committed to producing rigorous research that informs policy and drives positive change. 

What sets us apart is our collaborative approach. We thrive on teamwork, leveraging each other’s strengths to tackle complex issues from multiple angles. Whether it’s designing sophisticated economic models, crafting sustainable finance strategies, or conducting field experiments, our team embraces diversity of thought and expertise to generate holistic insights. 

Beyond our academic pursuits, we are deeply invested in engaging with stakeholders and communities. Through partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, industry leaders, and financial institutions, we ensure that our research is relevant, actionable, and makes a tangible difference in the world of green finance and sustainable development. 

Join us in our quest to transform economic and environmental landscapes through cutting-edge research, innovative green finance solutions, and meaningful collaboration. Together, we can build a more sustainable future for generations to come. 

Detailed Description 

A number of posts are available within the Department of Accounting, Economics & Finance. Under the leadership of the Head of Department, Prof. Reza Kouhy, the role-holders will provide teaching support in either Economics or Finance, including large and small group teaching, tutorials and assessment activities. 

For candidates interested in the Economics posts, we invite applications from candidates who can address one of the following topic areas in their PhD: 

Towards forest sustainability: Farmers’ decision-making, land use alternatives and deforestation trade-offs. The agricultural sector is responsible for around 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, thus directly contributing to climate change, but it has also an indirect contribution through deforestation, cattle farming and other activities associated with converting the use of land. Understanding how farmers use their land is essential to propose policies to mitigate deforestation and boost sustainability. Hence, this research project aims to analyse the impact of growing intensification in livestock farming and crop production on deforestation. Research topics include, but are not limited to: (i) studying farmers’ decisions regarding their land use and its consequences for deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions; (ii) studying the social acceptability of policies to mitigate deforestation; (iii) exploring how competition affects farmers’ decisions. The project is open to multi-country analysis with a special interest in tropical developing countries. The research may use quantitative analysis (advanced econometrics), including the estimation of both reduced-form and structural models. 

The supervisory team for this project area will consist of Dr Thiago Cacicedo & Dr Claudia Aravena. Candidates interested in this project area are encouraged to contact Dr Cacicedo ([email protected]) for an informal discussion about their research proposal prior to submitting their application. 

Unravelling the tapestry of health: A causal historical analysis of public health interventions. The field of health history plays a crucial role in understanding the evolution of public health practices and their impact on society. This project aims to employ data-driven causal inference methods within the realm of economic history to unravel the relationship between public health interventions and health and economic outcomes. Investigating the causal pathways through which interventions influenced economic variables will provide nuanced insights into the broader societal impacts of health policies. Concretely, the project aims are: 

a. To apply causal inference methods to analyse the economic impact of major historical public health interventions; b. To assess the long-term economic implications of public health strategies; c. To explore the role of economic factors, such as the role of technology, innovation, and labour markets in shaping public health strategies over time. 

The supervisory team for this project area will consist of Dr Rachel Forshaw & Prof. Eoin McLaughlin. Candidates interested in this project area are encouraged to contact Dr Forshaw ([email protected]) for an informal discussion about their research proposal prior to submitting their application. 

Socioeconomic dynamics in developing nations: Examining the interplay of fertility, employment patterns, and household wellbeing. This project aims to investigate the following: 1. The factors influencing fertility dynamics in developing nations, exploring both individual and societal determinants using microeconomic data and employing micro-econometric methods to identify causal relationships; 2. Examine the links with employment and labour market participation in developing countries, identifying key drivers and consequences for economic development. 3. Assess the holistic impact of these socioeconomic dynamics on household well-being, encompassing aspects such as income distribution, living standards, and overall quality of life. The project will employ micro-level data and causal inference methods to identify policy implications for enhancing household welfare in developing nations. 

The supervisory team for this project area will consist of Dr Philippe LeMay-Boucher, Dr Cristina Tealdi & Dr Rachel Forshaw. Candidates interested in this project area are encouraged to contact Dr LeMay-Boucher ([email protected]) for an informal discussion about their research proposal prior to submitting their application. 

For candidates interested in the Finance posts, we invite applications from candidates who can address one of the following topic areas in their PhD: 

Network effects, sentiment analysis and bubble/crisis model of risk contagion between green energy and financial markets. The main aim of this project is to investigate: 1) the role of media in transmitting shocks and the formation of asymmetric information effects, so that we can predict speculative green energy and asset bubbles, market crashes, and evaluate risk contagion between green energy and financial markets; 2) the significance of green energy and financial market connectedness via structural and spatial networks. 

By investigating the relationship between the green energy industry and financial markets, the study endeavours to reveal how textual data correlates with endogenous feedback mechanisms in aiding the formation of risk (in the form of green energy and asset bubbles) and influences the returns and transmission of covariance risk. The project will develop an effective early warning signal model (predicting mechanism) in a nonlinear setup to explore network interdependences coupled with risk contagion and transmission, which is representative of both certain and uncertain times that characterise energy and financial markets in general. 

The supervisory team for this project area will consist of Dr Andrea Eross & Prof. Dimitris Christopoulos. Candidates interested in this project area are encouraged to contact Dr Eross ([email protected]) for an informal discussion about their research proposal prior to submitting their application. 

Ownership structure, managerial tone and financial market outcomes. This project aims to investigate the following: 1. How corporate governance, particularly ownership structure, affects sustainability narratives; 

2. How CEOs’ and senior executives’ education and background influence the tone of sustainability narratives; 3. What are the economic consequences of the tone of sustainability disclosures. The study aims to examine the relationship between corporate governance structures, such as the impact of board interlocking and overlapping audit committee directors on the tone of sustainability narratives. Ultimately, it seeks to assess the impact of such narratives on firms’ performance. Addressing these questions will have both industry and policy-relevant implications, and will help to mitigate the growing skepticism regarding the link between sustainability and firms’ performance. 

The supervisory team for this project area will consist of Dr Eddie Jones, Dr Stefano Maiani & Dr Rachel Forshaw. Candidates interested in this project area are encouraged to contact Dr Jones ([email protected]) for an informal discussion about their research proposal prior to submitting their application. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

Reporting to the Head of Department, the post-holder will: 

• Undertake a PhD on one of the topics specified above, maintaining an appropriate rate of progress and engaging in relevant training and other events as required. 
• Develop and deliver teaching in Economics or Finance, including delivery to a range of group sizes in both in-person and online environments. 
• Provide flexible, appropriate, and timely support to students using a variety of media. 
• Prepare and mark assessments and provide student feedback as required, and in line with School policies and standards. 
• Contribute to the administrative work of the Department as required. 
• Undertake other duties as required by the Head of Department. 

Relevant training will be provided alongside the role. In particular, during the first two years of the contract, the post-holder will be expected to undertake training in teaching and learning as required by the University, as well as research methods training provided by the School of Social Sciences or via the Scottish Graduate Programme in Economics (unless equivalent qualifications are already held). 

Education, Qualifications and Experience 

The person requirements to successfully perform the role. 

Essential criteria: 

• An undergraduate degree in a relevant field with a minimum 2:1 classification (or equivalent). 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Candidates for whom English is a second language should meet the University’s minimum English-language requirements for entry onto the PhD programme. If you have not already studied a degree programme that was taught and examined in the medium of English, the minimum overall IELTS score is 6.5 with no score lower than 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. 
• A viable research proposal for PhD study on one of the topics listed above. 
• Good general IT skills. 
• Ability to manage own time in order to balance the requirements of teaching and PhD study. 
• Ability to work as part of a teaching team to deliver a high quality student experience. 

Desirable criteria: 

• A postgraduate Master’s degree in a relevant field. 
• Relevant teaching and/or professional experience. 

How to Apply 

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Wednesday the 10th of July 2024.

When applying for this role, please submit a single pdf that includes a cover letter that identifies how your skills and experience are a good match for this position, a copy of your PhD research proposal (clearly indicating which project you are applying for), a copy of your CV, and the names and contact details for two referees. 

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. 

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ . 

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University. 

About Heriot Watt University 

Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge, relevant research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation, business and industry. 

Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business, psychology and languages. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland’s most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort. 

About Our School 

Social Sciences is the largest of five academic schools at Heriot-Watt University and we provide teaching and research across our core disciplines: 

The Edinburgh Business School: 

Accountancy, Economics, and Finance 

Management 

Marketing and Operations 

Languages and Intercultural Studies 

Psychology 

We specialise in industry-focused degree programmes which embrace a truly international outlook. Our degrees are taught by experienced professionals and highly regarded academics, and we are proud to produce high-calibre, career-ready graduates and offer a full range of degree choices at undergraduate and postgraduate level. 

Further details can be found at: https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/schools/social-sciences.htm 

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