PhD Studentship: The Professor Robin Sickles’ Studentship: an economic analysis of the effects of selection and sorting in education

Application details
Reference number: SBE-TT18
Start date of studentship: 01 April 2019
Closing date of advert: 10 January 2018
Interview date: TBC

Supervisors
Primary supervisor: Professor Robin Sickles
Secondary supervisor: Dr Thomas Triebs
Supervisor: Dr Justin Tumlinson

Project detail
We invite applications from highly motivated candidates to pursue a PhD in Economics at Loughborough University’s School of Business and Economics under the day to day supervision of Dr Thomas Triebs. The candidate will benefit from a diverse supervision team with Professor Robin Sickles at Rice University, Houston, and Dr Justin Tumlinson at Loughborough University, London.

We are looking for a candidate with a background in micro economics and micro econometrics (i.e. panel data, instrumental variable estimation, difference-in-difference estimation). Evidence should be in the form of graduate courses and/or dissertations.

Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014). You will work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Doctoral College.

Find out more: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/supporting-you/research/

Project detail
We invite a PhD student to collaborate in an economic analysis of the effects of selection and sorting in education. Students and faculty select and are selected into educational institutions. This sorting impacts institutional performance. This project will provide stepping stones for the PhD student’s independent work, investigating the following areas:

Tracking in Education: Academics and policy makers alike debate the merit of streaming students by scholastic achievement. But since measured achievement is often influenced by early environmental factors just as much as true unobservable ability, achievement-based selection may unintentionally sort on environment rather than ability. Policies informed by such biased comparisons may have unintended consequences. We will quantify these sorting effects.

English in Higher Education: Universities in English speaking countries have long dominated elite higher education, but many global universities are changing their official language to English. We will investigate switching’s impact on universities’ ability to attract top students and faculty, together with broader performance not just for the switchers but competing English speaking incumbents. Then we will consider the parallel trend for business firms

Entry requirements:
UK Masters degree (with average programme mark of no less than 65%) or International GRE/GMAT equivalent. English Language requirement of IELTS band 7.0 or above with not less than 7.0 in each component.

Funding information:
The studentship provides a tax free enhanced stipend of £16,277 per annum for the duration of the studentship plus tuition fees at the UK/EU rate. International (non EU) students may apply however the total value of the studentship will be used towards the cost of the International tuition fee.

Contact details:
Name: Dr Thomas Triebs, Lecturer in Economics
Email address: [Email Address Removed]

How to apply:
All applications should be made online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/. Under programme name, select Business School

Please quote reference number: SBE-TT18

Please upload all the supporting documents listed below:
• A curriculum vitae
• A 500 word personal statement explaining your interest in, and aptitude for, doctoral research.
• 2-3 samples of writing such as MSc dissertation, journal or conference article, essays from your MSc degree
• Copies of your transcripts/certificates (including GRE/GMAT scores is highly recommended)
• Two academic references.