Venice and its Environments: Navigating Memory, Culture and Crisis

Coventry University (CU) is inviting applications from suitably-qualified graduates for a fully-funded PhD studentship

This PhD project aligned with the CAMC Cultural Memory research strand, will investigate the unique cultural heritage of Venice examined in new contexts of its pivotal place in addressing world heritage challenges. It will align to global environmental challenges and connecting cultural heritage in contexts of crises, encompassing historic and contemporary responses to plagues and pandemics.

The studentship offers an outstanding opportunity to capitalise on CAMC’s ongoing collaboration as a leading advisory partner institution with the British Council Venice Fellowships Programme. Building on this international partnership, the specific focus of the PhD is to open up new, interdisciplinary knowledge of Venice’s ‘environments’ broadly conceived. This may encompass art and architectural heritage (historic and contemporary), which may extend to an examination of Venetian heritage eco-systems: waterways, the Venetian marine environment (lagoon), and the ongoing impact of flooding and bio-hazards (Covid-19) in addressing Venice’s exemplary status and cultural memory as an existentially threatened world heritage environment. The PhD thus will provide innovative opportunities to bring to new attention, Venice’s integrated art and heritage environments, via these, to develop new knowledge of their value and significance for heritage conservation, and for understanding cultural heritage as key to addressing bio challenges both past and present.

The PhD will be supervised by Prof. Juliet Simpson, FRSA, FRHistS and colleagues in the Centre for Arts, Memory and Communities at Coventry University.
Training and Development
The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training including technical, personal and professional skills.

All researchers at Coventry University (from PhD to Professor) are part of the Doctoral College and Centre for Research Capability and Development, which provides support with high-quality training and career development activities. 
Entry criteria for applicants to PHD
• A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average. 
PLUS 
the potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a 3.5 years
• a minimum of English language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component)

For further details see: https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/making-an-application/
Additional items for candidate specification
• Masters in Art History, Cultural History, or a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 2:1 equivalent in the dissertation element
• Demonstrable ability to develop inter- and cross-disciplinary study methods
• Reading and spoken proficiency in Italian CEFR levels, B2, C1
How to apply
To find out more about the project please contact: Professor Juliet Simpson: [Email Address Removed]

To apply on line please visit: 
https://pgrplus.coventry.ac.uk/studentships/fah-venice-and-its-environments-navigating-memory-culture-and-crisis

All applications require full supporting documentation, a covering letter, plus a 2000-word supporting statement showing how the applicant’s expertise and interests are relevant to the project.