About the Project
Applications are invited for a fully funded 3 year industrial PhD studentship. This is an exciting opportunity to apply and develop your skills in an interdisciplinary setting, with cutting edge facilities and strong industrial engagement from a group of leading global aerospace and defence organisations. If you want to gain experience of how sustainability is applied in a business setting whilst still delivering the advancements in environmental and societal stewardship needed for a sustainable society then this is the PhD for you!
The aim of the research is to develop a methodology by which ADS organisations can collaboratively report on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions whilst linking to broader sector pathways. Investors, shareholders, stakeholders and government are increasingly requesting better and more accurate environmental disclosures in reporting from organisations. The PhD will examine how this requirement is pushing organisations to measure and report their environmental impacts in new ways, or risk financial and/or reputational impacts if disclosure is insufficient. It will also investigate why emerging reporting formats and methodologies to support environmental disclosures, lack consistency in approach and implementation. Further to this, organisations are seeking information from suppliers on embodied and operational inputs/outputs for inclusion in environmental performance reporting, however, this can be difficult as supply chains are often long and complex, and information can be proprietary. Therefore, understanding a products lifecycle from a circular perspective when gathering information across value chains is critical. This is particularly important in the Aerospace and Defence sectors where many organisations are part of a bigger system. Presently, individual organisations report (and are reviewed) in isolation, which does not provide an accurate representation of their impacts on the environment; however, a sectoral view would allow for a broader consideration of impacts that result from their activities. This novel approach would support collaborative innovation amongst ADS sectors.
Additionally, there are two areas where ADS sector organizations are being pushed to report on data, and commit to reducing long term emissions. These relate to Scope 3 emissions and Science Based Targets. Both of these areas relate to emissions beyond the direct control/influence of an individual organisation and alignment with government goals for emissions reduction. Furthermore, these areas have the potential to place significant reporting burden on ADS sector organisations for limited benefit. The PhD research will explore how to frame these issues, where reporting will be channelled to provide beneficial outputs, while offering a positive and constructive way to respond to the scope 3 / Science Based targets debates.
Co-authored research papers will be published during the PhD between the student, Chester and the sponsoring organisations.
Industrial Partners:
ADS and the University of Chester will ‘host’ the research, whilst a consortium of three industrial partners will provide industrial supervision for the research including Rolls-Royce, Granta Design and Qinetiq. The researcher may be located within each of the companies for an appropriate period of time to apply their research in an industrial environment.
The Candidate:
Suitable for candidates holding or anticipating award of an MSc, or 1st/2.1 undergraduate degree in an engineering/environmental sciences discipline. Knowledge in life cycle assessment (LCA) and/or the development environmental indicators is desirable.
Experience in Aerospace/Defence or Space industry.
Experience with multiple criteria assessment would be beneficial
Candidates should have an enthusiasm for research and a wish to deploy outputs in a practical environment.
Due to the secure nature of some of the sites, the applicant must be a UK/EU national and any appointment will be subject to gaining relevant Security Clearance
Funding Notes
Awards for UK students cover tuition fees and a maintenance allowance at £15,000 per annum for 3 years. EU applicants who have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years immediately preceding the start of their course are also eligible for awards that cover tuition fees and provide a maintenance allowance.
Applications should include a completed University of Chester Postgraduate Research Degree application form including contact details of two referees (at least one must be familiar with your most recent academic work).
Continue with Facebook
