Revealing Abledment: Ableism and the Body Politic

Studies in Ableism (SiA) is now a recognised sub-specialism of critical disability studies and focuses on ways that abledment (the process of being/becoming ‘abled’) is located within societal processes and practices. Temporality, place and context are significant for the formation of bodies and populations marked as ‘abled’, and the remnant sometimes marked as ‘disabled’.

We are keen to support PhD candidates who are interested in investigating the production of abledment within a specific realm (this could be the notion of citizenship in more collectivist societies, ideas of reciprocity and hospitality in family-kin networks; abledment and abjection; ‘advances’ in science; abledment, technology and productivity; abledment and leadership; and so on). Students will be provided with support in absorbing the canon of critical disability studies in order to gain insights into radical appraisals of disability before moving in the literature of SiA.

The project requires a student who is committed to reading broadly across traditional disciplinary boundaries and non-western cultural contexts, hungry for deliberation and problematisation; and ultimately comfortable with complexity and uncertainties. This project would suit PhD students from humanities (history, art aesthetics, medical humanities), social sciences (sociology, politics, cultural studies, anthropology, legal studies) and social work, education, community learning & development.

For informal enquiries about the project, contact Professor Fiona Kumari Campbell ([Email Address Removed])

For general enquiries about the University of Dundee, contact [Email Address Removed]

Our research community thrives on the diversity of students and staff which helps to make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for postgraduate research. We welcome applications from all talented individuals and are committed to widening access to those who have the ability and potential to benefit from higher education.

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must have obtained, or expect to obtain, a first or 2.1 UK honours degree, or equivalent for degrees obtained outside the UK in a relevant discipline.

English language requirement: IELTS (Academic) score must be at least 6.5 (with not less than 5.5 in each of the four components). Other, equivalent qualifications will be accepted. Full details of the University’s English language requirements are available online: www.dundee.ac.uk/guides/english-language-requirements.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Step 1: Email Professor Fiona Kumari Campbell ([Email Address Removed]) to (1) send a copy of your CV and (2) discuss your potential application and any practicalities (e.g. suitable start date).

Step 2: After discussion with Professor Campbell, formal applications can be made via the direct application system. When applying, please follow the instructions below:

Apply for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Social Work: Education, social work, and community education research degrees | University of Dundee.

Please select the study mode (full-time/part-time) and start date agreed with the lead supervisor.

 In the Research Proposal section, please:

-       Enter the lead supervisor’s name in the ‘proposed supervisor’ box

-       Enter the project title listed at the top of this page in the ‘proposed project title’ box

In the ‘personal statement’ section, please outline your suitability for the project selected.