Just transition to net zero

College of Business and Law at the University of the West of England in Bristol invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship with the Bristol Research in Economics group.

Ref: 2526-JAN-CBL03

The expected start date of this studentship is 1 January 2026.

Closing date for applications is 12 October 2025.

The College of Business and Law is a host to lively and challenging PhD programme. Students benefit from its modern facilities and a welcoming research environment comprising diverse research groups and centres. The studentship reflect ongoing commitment of the College of Business and Law at UWE to the development of its doctoral programmes.

Doctoral students at the College benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from UWE Doctoral Academy, including extensive professional development programme, research skills training and careers advice. Find out more about the Doctoral Academy.

Securing a green, resilient economic future will depend on adopting transition pathways to net zero that are globally just – i.e. that do not exacerbate already high levels of wealth, income and power inequality within and between the global north and south. To envision these pathways, we not only have to analyse the material constraints to green production (e.g. the carbon budget/primary resources/productive capacity/labour skills/balance of payments/available finance) but also the design of global and domestic institutions that coordinate that production, something too often neglected in economics.

We invite research proposals that fit within this project, and within the wider UWE RISE agenda Securing a Green, Resilient Future. The focus might be on:

• A (globally situated) country or region
• A specific global production chain (e.g. food and fertilizer, energy production and transmission, transport, construction materials, ICT)
• Basic resources (e.g. land/water/labour/rare earth minerals)
• Key institutions or stakeholders (e.g. IMF & domestic central banks, international markets).

Your theoretical approach should augment economic with social and political categories. Your research may involve a mixture of formal modelling, historical and/or comparative case studies and thematic analysis. Candidates will be supported by a supervisory team drawn from the Bristol Research in Economics research group, who promote pluralist, interdisciplinary approaches to economics. There are opportunities for secondments under the EU Horizon MSCA Exchange programme "Financing the Green Transition” with partners in Türkiye, Austria and Germany.

Applicants from the Global South are encouraged to apply.

For an informal discussion about the project proposal please contact Dr Jennifer Churchill at Jennifer.churchill@uwe.ac.uk.

For an informal discussion about the studentship, please contact College Director of Doctoral Research, Dr Paweł Capik at pawel.capik@uwe.ac.uk.

The studentship is available from 1 January 2026 for a period of three years, subject to satisfactory progress, which includes a tax-exempt stipend of £20,780 per annum (25/26 academic year), and full-time home/international fees.

Applicants must have at least 2.1 degree in economics, sustainability or a cognate discipline, and preferably Masters degree (with average programme mark of no less than 65%, UK grading scale or international equivalent).

A recognised English language qualification is required. IELTS score of 7.0 overall, or equivalent.

Please submit your application online. When prompted use the reference number 2526-JAN-CBL03.

Supporting documentation: Prepare your research proposal - no more than 5 pages all-inclusive; font size 11, 1.5-spacing, 2-inch margins. Indicative contents: research context and rationale, brief literature review, research focus (objectives/research questions), proposed methodology and expected contribution of the project. Development of research proposal should happen in consultation with the potential supervisor. You should contact the potential supervisor with an advanced draft of the proposal to confirm they are willing to support your application.

You will need to upload your research proposal, all your degree certificates and transcripts and a recognised English language qualification is required.

References: you will need to provide details of two referees as part of your application.

The closing date for applications is 12 October 2025 at 18:00.

Interviews will take place online in November. If you have not heard from us by 30 November 2025, we thank you for your application but on this occasion you have not been successful.