PhD Research in Productivity and Efficiency Analysis: improving the productivity and efficiency of firms, the public sector and other organisations

Application details
Reference number: SBE –VPDS17
Start date: 01 October 2018
Closing date: 14 March 2018

The School of Business and Economics’ Centre for Productivity and Performance (CPP - http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/sbe/cpp/) seeks applications for a PhD studentship focused on productivity, efficiency and performance measurement. Your PhD studies will complement CPP’s wider research agenda of evaluating, understanding, incentivising and improving the productivity and efficiency of firms, the public sector and other organisations.

Applicants should have a strong background in economics, operational research, statistics and/or mathematics. The successful candidate will undertake theoretical and applied efficiency and/or productivity research, and particularly data envelopment analysis and/or econometric modelling.

Theoretical work would contribute to the development of optimisation-based or econometric methodologies, applicable to different types of organisational structure, assessment scenarios and types of data. Application-oriented work would put the problem context at the centre of research, aiming to apply and extend existing methodologies for the analysis of organisational performance and formulation of relevant policy implications. Suggested areas of application include but are not restricted to energy, water, health, banking and the public services.

Successful applicants will become a member of a thriving international research community and will be supervised by Professors Victor Podinovski and David Saal. Potential applicants should discuss their potential research agenda with Victor Podinovski ([Email Address Removed]) or David Saal ([Email Address Removed]), before applying.

Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014) and an outstanding 66% of the work of Loughborough’s academic staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF was judged as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, compared to a national average figure of 43%.

In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Graduate School, including tailored careers advice, to help you succeed in your research and future career.

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

Find out more
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/sbe/research/phd-mphil/studentships/

Entry requirements
UK Masters degree (with average programme mark of no less than 65%) or International 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 stipend of £14,777 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: Professor Victor Podinovski
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-VPDS17

Please upload all the supporting documents listed below:
• A curriculum vitae
• A 500 word personal statement explaining your interest in, and aptitude for, the topic of this research project. In particular we would like to learn about what qualities you feel you can bring to the project.
• 2-3 samples of writing such as MSc dissertation, journal or conference article, essays from your MSc degree
• Copies of your transcripts/certificates
• Two academic references.