PhD Studentship in Social Norms

Applications are invited for a 4-year PhD studentship in the Department of Economics at Royal Holloway, University of London.

We are inviting applications for a September 2024 start, and the successful candidate will join a research project on Social Norms, funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The project seeks to understand how social norms develop and are sustained, and involves psychologists, economists, and computer scientists at Royal Holloway. The position will be supervised by Professor David Levine (Economics), but the successful student will also benefit from the expertise provided by members of the project team including Michael Mandler (Economics), Francesco Feri (Economics), Bjoern Hartig (Economics), Ryan McKay (Psychology), Gabriele Bellucci (Psychology) and Kostas Stathis (Computer Science).

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Social Norms
• Game Theory
• Experimental Economics
• Micro Economic Theory

INFORMATION ABOUT THE STUDENTSHIP & ELIGIBILITY

The studentship provides support of £21,237 per year (UKRI rate for the 2024/2025 academic year with London Weighting) over a period of 4 years for a full-time student. It also includes a fee waiver to cover fees at the home fees rate (currently £4,786 for the 2024/2025 academic year).

Students who have already started their study programme are not eligible.

REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for the studentship should ideally hold, or be predicted to achieve, a first-class undergraduate degree or equivalent in Economics or related discipline. A relevant MSc (e.g. microeconomics, behavioural economics, computational economics, decision sciences) with distinction is desirable, but not essential. Strong statistical skills, and experience with designing and implementing experiments with human participants, are useful. Applicants will need to submit a CV, a research proposal and personal statement (see guidance here), along with transcript(s) and copies of any qualifications. 

THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS, ROYAL HOLLOWAY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

The post is based in Egham, Surrey where the College is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus within commuting distance from London. At Royal Holloway, the post holder will join an active postgraduate research community, in a thriving research environment.

The Department of Economics at Royal Holloway produces world leading research and teaching on topics ranging from the effect of immigration on labour markets, to how and why stock markets soar and plummet just before news is released, to why children born during financial crises underachieve, to the economic impacts of Brexit, and various issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research informs both our teaching and impact with various organisation ranging from the Home Office to NATO.

https://royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and-teaching/departments-and-schools/economics/studying-here/postgraduate-research-phds/

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please complete an online application here:

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/applying/research-degrees/how-to-apply/

Please select "PhD Economics" as the course title within the application form, specify the name of Professor David Levine as supervisor and provide also a clear statement that you are applying for the studentship entitled "PHD POSITION IN SOCIAL NORMS" and prepare the following documents:

1. a covering letter that describes your reasons for wishing to pursue a PhD in this area indicating their special topic(s) of interest;
2. a copy of your most recent CV, including your actual or expected degree class(es), and results of all University examinations.
3. two academic references.

For more information about the project, the research areas, and the post, please contact Professor David Levine (david.levine@rhul.ac.uk).

Closing Date: 23:59GMT, 2^nd June 2024

Interview Date: June 2024

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