University College London (UCL) is one of the world's top universities. Based in the heart of London, it is a dynamic, outward-looking institution. At its establishment in 1826, UCL was radical and responsive to the needs of society, and this ethos – that excellence should go hand-in-hand with enriching society – continues today.
The UCL Department of Geography is a leading UK and global department, with a heritage of excellence in research across a broad range of research themes.
The Making Africa Urban project
This studentship is located within a research team led by Professor Jennifer Robinson working on a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant-funded project, Making Africa Urban: the transcalar politics of large-scale urban development.
The project compares three transnational circuits shaping African urbanisation (developmental, sovereign, and private), and nine cases of urban development in three cities (Accra, Dar es Salaam, Lilongwe) where all three circuits have a strong presence. The research will provide a basis to work against the neglect and exceptionalism of African experiences within urban studies. Further details about the project can be found at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/urban-lab/research/research-projects/making-africa-urban-transcalar-politics-large-scale-urban-development.
UCL Geography invites applicants to work on a funded PhD in this area. The student appointed will work closely with Professor Robinson and the research team to design a comparative research project within the scope of the grant, which will include Lilongwe, Malawi, and at least one case from another city in the project (Accra, Dar es Salaam). This is an interdisciplinary project which will allow you to develop skills at the intersection between several disciplines which are relevant to both academia and urban policy. The supervisory team has broad experience in working across disciplines and collaborating with policy makers, NGOs and private companies.
Team members are also located in Accra, Dar es Salaam, Lilongwe and Johannesburg. Where possible you will undertake visits to the selected case study sites in order to undertake in-person research and meet other team members. You will undertake original research on line and in person in one or more of the selected case study cities. This will involve sustaining regular interactions across the entire project. You will contribute to collection and analysis of data for the project in collaboration with other relevant team members. In UCL Geography the postholder will be part of the Global Urbanisms research cluster and will be based at UCL’s Bloomsbury campus, or remotely according to COVID-19 restrictions.
You will have the opportunity to contribute to the dissemination of findings in appropriate academic and stakeholder settings and to attend regular departmental, faculty and UCL-wide research and teaching seminars, and will be supported by transdisciplinary collaboration in Urban Studies within and outside UCL.
Funding is available for eligible applicants. For more information on this and application process, please see: https://www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/study/graduate-research/graduate-research-programmes
The closing date for applications is Friday 30 July 2021 5pm GMT. Interviews are expected to take place soon after 9 August 2021. The starting date will be 27 September 2021.
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