PhD studentship: Marine Biological Association/University of Plymouth Collaborative Doctoral Award, ‘A Networked Ocean: Historical Archives and Collections at the Marine Biological Association’

Marine Biological Association/University of Plymouth Collaborative Doctoral Award, ‘A Networked Ocean: historical archives and collections at the Marine Biological Association’

DoS: Dr Kathryn Napier Gray (kathryn.gray@plymouth.ac.uk)

Adviser: Professor Willie Wilson (CEO) Marine Biological Association

Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 1 October 2024.

Project Description

The PhD collaboration project between the Marine Biological Association and the University of Plymouth will respond to the historical archives and collections at the MBA. Containing a wide range of materials – letters and diaries of the original and founding members of the MBA, discoveries of 19th century female botanists and marine scientists, a first edition of Darwin’s Origins, anonymous self-made and handcrafted volumes of marine illustrations – the collections and archive offer PhD students the opportunity to explore the origins of Marine Science and the Association from several culturally-led perspectives.   

The overarching intellectual priority of the PhD project will be to investigate and respond to the study of marine environments and corresponding cultural understandings of the sea and marine science. While situated broadly within the Environmental Humanities, there’s scope to shape the project historically (eg. 19th century environmental history), theoretically (eg. eco-critical strategies and approaches to the non-human / posthuman), or creatively (eg. practice-based, photography, illustration, fine art). As part of the PhD, the doctoral candidate will contribute to multi-disciplinary workshop events that showcase hidden treasures from the archive (year 1); contribute to an exhibition of hidden treasures, online or onsite (year 2); and produce co-written publications in the Marine Biologist magazine and MBA website (year 3).

Eligibility

You are required to have a good honours degree (1st Class or an Upper 2:1) and likely a Masters degree in a relevant subject (completed with Distinction or a High Merit), and a strong wish to pursue a PhD with an original research project.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent.

The award is supported for 3 years and includes full Home tuition fees, a bench fee of up to £1500 plus a stipend of £18,110 per annum (2023/24 rate) Applications are open for applicants who are eligible for Home fees with relevant qualifications.  Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates approximately £12,697 per annum 2023/24 rate (2024/25 rate TBC).

NB: The studentship is supported for three years of the four-year registration period. The fourth year is a self-funded ‘writing-up’ year.

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Dr Kathryn Napier Gray, kathryn.gray@plymouth.ac.uk .

To apply for this position please click on the Apply button above.

Please clearly state the name of the studentship title that you are applying for on the top of your personal statement.

For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our How to Apply for a Research Degree webpage or contact the Doctoral College.

The closing date for applications on 14 June 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview shortly after the deadline. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. 

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