Fully funded PhD Studentship - The Epistemology of Construction Product Certification

Award

The studentship covers the following:

• Annual stipend at standard AHRC rates (£16,612 per year for 2022-23);
• Tuition fees for 3.5 years, the duration of study;
• Open to Home and International students.

Overview

The University of Edinburgh and the British Board of Agrément are seeking a doctoral student for an AHRC-funded Collaborative Doctoral Award, “The Epistemology of Construction Product Certification”. The project will be supervised by Nick Treanor (Reader in Philosophy, Edinburgh), Atoosa Kasirzadeh (Chancellor’s Fellow in Philosophy, Edinburgh), and Bill Hewlett (Technical Director of the British Board of Agrément). The project will focus on two research questions:

How does product certification function as an epistemic practice, one that creates, curates and transmits safety-critical knowledge within the construction industry?

How can product certification, as an epistemic practice, be improved to enhance the safety and quality of the built environment?

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a strong PhD student to do serious research in philosophy while addressing critical, real-world challenges. Through significant engagement with a range of UK government, industry, third-sector, and public stakeholders, the PhD project will bring theoretical insight from philosophy to important practical issues concerning the quality, safety, durability and sustainability of the built environment. It will also provide unique training to the research student, positioning them to make further contributions at the interface of philosophy, industry, and government.

We warmly encourage applications from candidates with a strong background in philosophy and an interest in engaging with issues of contemporary social importance. We emphasise that candidates do not need to have any experience with the construction industry, product certification, or engineering, as the requisite knowledge of industry practice will be acquired through engagement with the British Board of Agrément. The PhD studentship will commence on September 12^th, 2022.

Eligibility

Candidates should normally have a degree in philosophy or a cognate subject, with an excellent or very good classification (equivalent to first or upper second class honours in the UK). See specific entry requirements and national equivalencies here.

The AHRC also expects that applicants to PhD programmes will hold, or be studying towards, a Masters qualification in a relevant discipline; or have relevant professional experience to provide evidence of your ability to undertake independent research. Please ensure you provide details of your academic and professional experience in your application letter.

Application Process

Please submit as a single PDF file:

• a brief cover note that includes your full contact details together with the names and contact details of two referees (1 page)
• a letter explaining your interest in the studentship and outlining your qualifications for it (2 pages)
• a curriculum vitae or transcript, indicating previous work in philosophy and marks achieved
• a writing sample (typically a course essay or thesis chapter)

Application deadline: 5^th June, 2022

Applicants will be notified if they are being invited to interview by Tuesday 7^th June. Interviews will take place on or around Monday 13^th June via Zoom.

More information

For further details about the project, please visit our website.

Informal enquiries about the application process or the research project can be made to Dr. Nick Treanor, nick.treanor@ed.ac.uk.

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