PhD Studentship - Unravelling the Role of Necessity-driven Circular Business Models for an Environmentally and Socially Just Transition to Circular Economy

The Circular Economy (CE) policy agenda is mainly focusing on mature industrial models rather than on lower- and middle-income economies. However, identifying successful necessity-driven circular business models is important as they can still reduce resource consumption and extend product life cycles, while also generating jobs and addressing pressing needs for low-income strata of societies. Previous research has shown that many elements of a necessity-driven CE might even go beyond the borders of informal and precarious communities and be incorporated in more formalised settings.

Within this context, the project’s aim is to identify the requirements of successful necessity-driven circular business models in the Global South, and understand how these models can learn from and contribute to circular business models in the Global North by upscaling entrepreneurial income generation activities, filling institutional voids and informing policy making in both contexts.

The successful candidate will have a strong aptitude for qualitative research design including ethnographic case study, focus group, interviews and critical discourse analysis and will likely have a background in management, sociology, economics or a related discipline.

The project is based on a collaboration between Sheffield University Management School (SUMS, United Kingdom) and University of São Paulo (USP, Brazil). The project benefits from the support of several industrial organisations and community partners which have been already working with both SUMS and USP.

This scholarship lies within the research centre  Operations Management and Decision Sciences (OMDS). For informal enquiries, please contact the first supervisor Professor Andrea Genovese (a.genovese@sheffield.ac.uk).

This is a fully funded 3.5 year studentship covering Home or International tuition fees, and a stipend of £19,237. To support the international dimension of this project an enhanced  research and training support grant of £7,250 is available to support research costs. Applicants are required to develop a project proposal of 3000 words and are welcome to contact the supervisor in advance to discuss their ideas. Details about entry requirements and how to apply here can be found on the Management School website here: - www.sheffield.ac.uk/management/phd/scholarships.

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