Graduate Teaching Assistant – Department of Management

PhD Scholarship with Graduate Teaching Assistantship 

School of Social Sciences, Department of Management 

There are 2 opportunities available. 

The School of Social Sciences (incorporating Edinburgh Business 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 

The Department of Management is one of the biggest Department’s within the Edinburgh Business School and runs the University’s largest degree programmes at both an undergraduate and postgraduate level. In terms of research, whilst staff have a diverse set of interests two main (inter-related) themes dominate. The first led by Professor Laura Galloway and Professor Stoyan Stoyanov is based on themes of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, especially with regards to migrant and social enterprises. The second theme is led by Professor Kate Sang based around the long-standing research centre in Work and Wellbeing with a focus upon Equality, Diversity and Inclusion issues in business. 

Detailed Description 

Under the leadership of the Head of Department, Dr Colin Turner, the role-holders will provide teaching support in either Human Resource Management or Enterprise, including large and small group teaching, tutorials and assessment activities. 

We invite applications from candidates who can address one of the following topic areas in their PhD: 

Business Model Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Sustainability. The current governmental commitment toward NetZero targets to address climate change presents significant challenges that require businesses to rethink their strategies and business models sustainably. This quest necessitates inclusive business models that prioritise environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability. Literatures on business models – addressing the question of how to align business activities for value creation and appropriation – have mainly been grounded in the economic goal, taking individual firms as the unit of analysis and a snapshot/static view, omitting (i) sustainable goals of society and environment (ii) the dynamic transition perspective and (iii) the inter-firm/ecosystem level (Jacobides, 2019). This calls for research on How to achieve sustainable business model innovation under the ecosystem dynamics reaching climate change targets. The proposed research would examine how interconnected businesses can co-evolve towards sustainability and resilience. It also calls for new approaches, both qualitative and quantitative (e.g. system thinking or scenario simulation within strategy and innovation literatures). 

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

Exploring how FinTech entrepreneurs navigate the complex, rapidly changing environment of their industry. This PhD project seeks to explore how FinTech entrepreneurs navigate the complex, rapidly changing environment of their industry, particularly focusing on their judgement-based decision-making in the face of uncertain events known as ‘grey swans’. By employing a qualitative, exploratory approach through case studies and interviews with Scottish FinTech entrepreneurs, this research aims to delve into the micro-practices of judgement that shape strategic decision-making and capability development under uncertainty. The project will contribute to a deeper understanding of the judgement-based view of entrepreneurship, shedding light on the mental models and sensemaking processes that influence entrepreneurial activity. Prospective applicants interested in exploring the interplay between entrepreneurial judgement, strategic development, and the broader context of the FinTech industry are encouraged to apply. This research will not only advance academic knowledge but also offer practical insights for navigating uncertainty in the fast-paced world of FinTech. 

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

Exploring dynamic capability development within social enterprises. This project seeks a PhD candidate passionate about sustainable development and innovation within social enterprises. The project aims to explore how social enterprises develop dynamic capabilities to adapt to the Zero Waste Agenda and environmental sustainability initiatives amid changing institutional contexts and new government policies. Leveraging a micro-foundational approach, the study will delve into the processes through which social entrepreneurs and their organizations build strategic capabilities to navigate and respond to sustainability challenges effectively. The research methodology encompasses qualitative interviews, case study analysis, and a processual research design, focusing on social enterprises in Scotland. This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to theoretical advancements in dynamic capability development and practical insights into organizational adaptation to sustainability agendas. Applicants should be keen on exploratory and qualitative research methods, with a strong interest in contributing to social enterprise success in achieving the UN SDGs and Zero-Waste goals. 

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

Strategic agility for business model renewal: A study of sustainability in Scottish SMEs. Over the last decade, sustainable entrepreneurship has attracted the attention of scholars and policymakers. Heightened awareness of social and environmental challenges globally has meant entrepreneurs are increasingly incorporating social and environmental value into their business models alongside core activities. This notion of sustainable development presents significant opportunities for entrepreneurs. This research aims to investigate the role of strategic agility in facilitating business model renewal for sustainability within the context of Scottish SMEs. 

By adopting this perspective, this study seeks to uncover how SMEs can adapt their business models to address social and environmental issues. In doing so, this project will provide a nuanced understanding of the sustainability landscape in Scottish SMEs, identifying the key drivers and barriers influencing this context. This work develops our understanding of how agility contributes to the adaptation and transformation of business models, offering insights into the role of strategic agility in facilitating business model renewal. 

The supervisory team for this project area will consist of Dr Assylbek Nurgabdeshov, Dr Shannon Harris & Dr Swapnesh Masrani. Candidates interested in this project area are encouraged to contact Dr Nurgabdeshov ([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 Human Resource Management or Enterprise, 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 the School’s PGCert in Research Methods (unless equivalent qualifications are already held). 

Education, Qualifications and Experience 

The person requirements to successfully perform the role. 

Essential criteria: 

• An undergraduate degree in in 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 (max. 1500 words) 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, or equivalent research experience. 
• Relevant teaching and/or professional experience. 

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 

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/ . 

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options. 

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. 

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