About the Project
Applications are invited for prestigious European Research Council (ERC) project funded scholarships from EU and international students with outstanding academic records. The 2 fully funded 4-year PhD positions are part of the European Research Council (ERC) project “Technology Evolution in Regional Economies” (TechEvo). For further information about the project and the UCD Spatial Dynamics Lab see: http://www.ucd.ie/sdl.
The ERC TechEvo project aims to investigate how specific regional knowledge capabilities influence the evolution of local technology trajectories and thus shape geographies of economic prosperity. Focusing on the development of scientific, technical and commercial knowledge, and set in an evolutionary framework, the doctoral research projects will explore how innovative individuals and entities are embedded in social and cognitive local and nonlocal networks and provide important insights regarding place-specific characteristics and historical context, and territorial and sectoral policy initiatives in order to determine how regional technology pathways can be actively directed.
The objective of TechEvo is to provide an interactive online mapping and analysis tool that will enable private and public entities, as well as policy makers, to identify current gaps and future opportunities in regional knowledge spaces and networks, and to support their demand for more effective and efficient local knowledge utilization and technology evolution. Overall, TechEvo aims to develop new theoretical understandings that take into consideration previously unexplored factors and relationships in the study of regional innovation systems and technology evolution, and, simultaneously, contribute to theoretical discussions that to date have lacked empirical evidence.
The PhD project can combine a selection of quantitative and qualitative research methods, and candidates are also encouraged to develop their own theories and methodologies to extend the proposed TechEvo framework. The successful applicants will be working directly with TechEvo’s principal investigator, Prof. Dieter F. Kogler and a team of researchers in Ireland as well as a number of international collaborators. Opportunities to undertake shortterm visits to partner institutes and research organizations in order to carry out collaborative and in situ data and modelling work will be available. The position will primarily be based at Spatial Dynamics Lab at University College Dublin (IE) as a part of Dr Kogler’s research group, who will also act as supervisor.
Applicants with a background in economic geography, economics, sociology, management studies, statistics, science & technology studies, computer sciences, or related engineering/science disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Requirements
Applications are invited from enthusiastic and talented candidates with a research Master’s degree in the fields or related disciplines outlined above. We are looking for applicants who have:
• Prior knowledge of and interest in theories of innovation and technological change. • A strong background in quantitative methodologies and analysis techniques. • Experience with spatial (econometric) analysis methods and expertise in the analysis of large-scale socio-economic and/or micro-level datasets are considered an asset. • Programming skills (R, Java, Python, etc.) and previous training in statistical (SPSS, STATA, SAS), spatial (GIS), and Social Network Analysis (UCI, Pajek, Gephi) software environments are desired, but not essential. • Excellent scientific writing and planning skills. • Good communication skills and an excellent command of spoken and written English are essential.
How to Apply
To apply, please forward a detailed CV, your university transcripts (BA, MSc, etc.), the names of two references, your master thesis and/or any publications you have authored (a URL or a PDF) along with a letter outlining your motivation for applying for one of these positions (max. 2 pages, single spaced), to Dr. Kogler at [Email Address Removed]. Please e-mail your application by 22 January 2018 at the very latest. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by the end of January 2018; anticipated start date is May or September, 2018.
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