The Management of Project (MoP) Research Group is a vibrant ecosystem of cutting-edge research initiatives and activities within the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering (MACE). The group delivers a very successful suite of MSc programmes in project management and it is at the forefront of several strands of research within project management and engineering management. The group has successfully delivered impact-laden research in collaboration with national and international organisations within industry, academia and government. Notable research endeavours include Project X (funded by the Economic and Social Research Council), the Discovering Safety Research programme via the Thomas Ashton Institute, and studies for UK government, Association of Project Management (APM), Project Management Institute (PMI) Association and several other funding agencies.
Drawing on the research successes of the group and as part of significant research investment by the Department of MACE, this studentship forms part of a cluster of PhDs to further enhance our research activity. More information about research themes and academic staff within the MoP research group can be found at https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/mop/.
Project Brief: Reducing carbon emissions during the life cycle of building projects is crucial for securing global net zero by mid-century. Researchers have begun to explore the innovation risk of low-carbon technologies in various areas, such as electric vehicles, solar cells and the manufacturing industry. However, studies on building carbon reduction have concentrated on the technologies, methods and strategies to reduce operational or embodied carbon without considering innovation risks in the process of applying these low-carbon technologies, even though these risks may lead to potential failure of developmental projects to achieve LCO2 reduction targets. This project will focus on understanding risks in the process of building low-carbon technological innovation, so as to effectively manage the emergent risks in building low-carbon technological innovations.
Application information: Information about the application process and a link to the online application form can be found at https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/admissions/how-to-apply/. The online application form does not list individual project titles; when submitting an application, please select PhD Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering (42 months) - Full-time (academic programme) and then PhD Management of Projects - Full-time (academic plan). Take note of the application checklist and provide the requested documents.
Please include a research proposal for the project you wish to apply for. The title of the proposal should be the title of the project. The proposal should be 3-5 pages and cover: research background (including the knowledge gap); aim and objectives; methodology; expected contribution/impact; and references.
Applicants must have obtained or be about to obtain either a First class UK honours degree or the combination of an Upper Second class UK honours degree and a UK master’s degree awarded with Merit or higher (or international equivalents), in an appropriate area of management or engineering e.g. construction engineering and management, civil engineering and project management.
In addition, the following skills/qualities are desirable:
· Proficiency in with the use of data analysis software like SPSS and Nvivo; proficiency in systems dynamics software like Vensim; proficiency in programming languages like R and/or Python will be an advantage.
· Knowledge of lifecycle assessment (LCA) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) in infrastructure planning, design, development, costing, and management.
· Self-motivated to meet project deadlines without constant reminders.
· Adept at working and making decisions with little or no supervision.
· Resilient and versatile while undertaking duties.
· Skillful in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
· Able to establish and maintain a good working relationship.
Enquiries about this studentship can be sent to Dr Obuks Ejohwomu ([Email Address Removed]) as the lead project supervisor, or to Dr Patrick Manu ([Email Address Removed]) and Dr Clara Cheung ([Email Address Removed]) as the studentship co-ordinators. The Admissions team in MACE can be contacted at [Email Address Removed] with any queries you may have regarding the application process.
Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact.
We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.
We also support applications from those returning from a career break or other roles. We consider offering flexible study arrangements (including part-time: 50%, 60% or 80%, depending on the project/funder), carer support funds for conferences, and peer support networks for parents and carers.
All appointments are made on merit.
The University of Manchester and our external partners are fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.