We are inviting applications for a 4-year funded integrated PhD and MSc part of the ESRC CDT Data Analytics and Society starting from October 2023. The student will be based in the Department of Economics at the University of Sheffield, and it will be part of a cluster of 4 studentships in economic geography within the Sheffield Urban, International Trade and Environmental Economics (SUITE) research group.
The aim of this project is to assess the drivers and the effects of digital poverty across local communities in the UK. It will rely on primary data collected through questionnaires, and on secondary data from several administrative data sources, to analyse both drivers and impacts of digital poverty. In particular, the project will be centred around several experiments where local communities in Sheffield and elsewhere will receive access to reliable high-speed broadband connection at cost price, giving the possibility to assess the local drivers of digital poverty, and the impact for disadvantaged households on several socio-economic indicators, such as education achievements, labour market participation, and community engagement.
This is an interdisciplinary PhD project spanning economic geography, regional studies and digital inclusion. The PhD student will have the opportunity to work on the first experiment of this kind in England, analysing how access to broadband could improve socio-economic conditions for households in deprived areas. This project is among the first ones worldwide to provide a robust and comprehensive analysis of digital poverty drivers and of its effects across households. The findings will help policymakers better understand how to reduce digital access inequalities across local communities. The partnership with the Digital Poverty Alliance will provide invaluable feedback throughout the PhD period to the student, offering the possibility of a secondment at the Digital Poverty Alliance to develop the skills needed to translate academic research into evidence-based policies. More information about the project can be found at the CDT project webpage.
The PhD student will be part of an active and multicultural cohort of PhD students based in the Department of Economics working on topics related to economic geography, the spatial distribution of economic activities and local labour markets. The student will also be part of the Sheffield Urban, International Trade and Environmental Economics (SUITE) research group and benefit from access to the doctoral training in economics programme, PhD reading groups, and the annual departmental PhD conference. Visit our website for more information about the PhD programme in Economics at Sheffield.
This project would be well suited to a student with a background in economics, geography, sociology, or other social sciences. Solid data analysis skills and a strong interest in economic geography and digital poverty would be an advantage. The successful student will be supervised by Professor Vania Sena (Management), Dr Enrico Vanino (Economics) and Dr Siobhan McAndrew (Sheffield Methods Institute). Interested candidates may contact Dr Vanino ([Email Address Removed]).
How to apply
Application form and guidance can be found on the CDT webpage. Please note that you must apply through the Leeds portal, even if you wish to study at Sheffield.
The studentship is available as 2+2 award, including an integrated MSc in Data Analytics over the first two years which will provide you with the foundation skills to complete your research project over the 4 years of the programme.
A standard studentship covers the cost of tuition fees, provides a doctoral stipend of £16,062, (2022 rate- to increase slightly each year with inflation), and a Research Training Support Grant, for four years. Applications are open to both Home and International fee rated applicants.
A minimum 2:1 honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant subject area is required. For international candidates you must have one or more of the following: IELTS (International English Language Testing System) – 7 overall, 7 writing, 6 other sections; TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Internet based test – 100 overall, 25 writing, 22 other sections; or a degree in any subject completed in the English language from a majority English speaking country may also be acceptable.
Options to study part-time are available, if you wish to study part-time please indicate this when you apply. If selected for interview, the project supervisor will discuss options with you.
The deadline for applications is 10th April 2023.
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