Net Zero and Fuel Poverty: Socio-technical research at the interface of social justice and environmental sustainability

Summary

The focus of the research will be developed in collaboration with the student. We envisage a piece of work that pushes the boundaries of socio-technical research on fuel poverty and energy transitions by utilising the expertise and facilities available at University of Salford and across partners in the region.

Greater Manchester has a retrofit accelerator programme and funding through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. The University has close relationships with housing providers, local authorities, house builders and technology developers.

We invite proposals for a three-year programme of work that connects the social dimensions of just transitions with themes in energy research such as:

• net zero and the low carbon transition
• energy efficient retrofit
• smart grids and technologies
• the decarbonisation of heat
• heating and cooling in a changing climate
• the cost of living, energy poverty, precarity and vulnerability

Background

This is a unique opportunity to work on socio-technical research into just transitions with academics at the University of Salford’s School of Health and Society (in the research centre SHUSU) and Energy House Laboratories. The successful candidate will be supported by National Energy Action (NEA) and Affordable Warmth Solutions (AWS) through the Malcolm Wicks Memorial Fund (MWMF).

You will benefit from specialist professional industry- and policy-focused support from colleagues at AWS and NEA who will act as non-academic supervisors. There will also be opportunities through these partnerships for fieldwork, dissemination and networking identified by AWS and NEA that will be available throughout the candidature. Two other PhD scholarships funded under the MWMF are planned with two other Universities. This will provide opportunities for collaborative support with peers undertaking PhDs and along with the opportunity to engage with a wider group of academics across the topics above.

The PhD will start in September 2023.

Candidates

We are looking for high quality candidates with expertise in the social science relating to energy, energy justice and socio-technical transitions.

• The scholarship is available to UK students only.
• Candidates must be available to start the PhD in September 2023.
• It is available as fulltime study, but we are happy to discuss other approaches.
• The minimum entry requirement is a good bachelor’s degree, normally 2:1 or above, but ideally candidates will hold a Master's degree.

How to apply

Submit a formal application at this link: (https://www.salford.ac.uk/postgraduate-research/apply) and note the programme title 'Net Zero and Fuel Poverty' and Dr Graeme Sherriff as your preferred supervisor.

 You will need to have the following documents ready to upload to the application site:

• A research proposal (approx. 2000 words) - See guidance available
• Copies of all your relevant certificates and transcripts
• CV
• Personal statement

For more information about the School of Health and Society, please visit https://www.salford.ac.uk/school-health-society

We will be selecting one candidate. Our provisonal date for interviews is 26th July.