About Us
When Edge Hill was awarded the University of the Year title for 2014/15, Times Higher Education described it as “a great success story…an institution that improves and impresses year after year”. The award recognised our outstanding achievements in student satisfaction, staff engagement, graduate employment and innovation as well as our strengthening research profile, investment and growth. It also celebrated Edge Hill University’s distinct role in “transforming lives” – reflecting a distinctive philosophy of creating opportunity from excellence.
Based on an award-winning campus in West Lancashire, and voted Best University Workplace 2015, Edge Hill University offers a stimulating and empowering environment for ambitious and high performing professionals.
Institute for Creative Enterprise (ICE), Institute for Public Policy and Professional Practice (I4P), Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI)
The University is home to a large and diverse group of disciplines with a track record of excellence in research, much of which crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries. We are particularly keen to continue to build our research capacity, and welcome applications for up to 6 PhD studentships in specified subject areas linked to one of the University’s three Research Institutes. All the studentships will be combined with Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs).
About the Role
Graduate Teaching Assistants hold a unique position in the University, being both registered students and carrying out teaching/teaching support duties (of up to 6 hours per week on a term time only basis per annum subject to the needs of the particular course/module).
Payment for teaching hours will be in the region of £8,300 per annum and each GTA will receive a ‘package’ which includes a combined salary (for teaching or support to teaching as appropriate) and full waiver of postgraduate tuition fees as well as a scholarship of in the region of £5,500 per annum. Limited postgraduate student accommodation is also available on campus (subject to availability and charged at standard rates). Research proposals are invited on:
Data analytics for developing regulatory frameworks in relation to population movement, i.e. migration etc
The project aims at investigating the activity of refugees in social media during their trip towards Europe. Plotting and analysing location marks associated with Twitter and Facebook posts could provide additional information about their journey. Analysing the textual content of posts by identifying the language used, place names and sentiment can inform about the difficulties encountered by the travellers. Building on the collaboration of the Departments of Computing and Law & Criminology, the project will combine data from traditional means of measuring and controlling refugee flows with activity on social media to increase the range and quality of data. Using existing techniques as well as social network analytics, the project aims to develop a more informed understanding of the difficulties that travellers encounter. Policy and legislation experts will assess how analysis outputs can inform policy makers and legislators. Capturing the activity of travellers will provide evidence to the EU and EU states for assessing travellers’ needs during their trip; balance expectations and resources and provide on-going support meaningful for both ends. The project will also include analysing the human rights dimensions in developing and implementing regulatory frameworks in relation to monitoring population movements in Europe, such as mass migration.
Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr Yannis Korkontzelos (Department of Computing) at Yannis.Korkontzelos@edgehill.ac.uk
Students will be expected to:
- Successfully undertake an initial programme of accredited research training.
- Undertake a PhD programme of research under the supervision of an appointed supervisory team.
- Enhance the research culture of the Department in which they are located, the Research Institute to which they are attached, and the University by participating in events, conferences and training.
- Successfully complete a programme of teacher training.
- Undertake up to six hours teaching a week or working with the Institute to which they are attached alongside University Departments or external agencies or organisations as directed by their Head of Department/Research Institute Director.
How to apply
Applicants must complete the online application form, attaching one document containing:
- A ‘Research Proposal’ which should not exceed 2,000 words in length
- A full academic curriculum vitae
Applicants should normally have, or be about to obtain, a Masters qualification in a subject relevant to the studentship for which they are applying.
Interviews will be held between Tuesday 3 May and Wednesday 11 May 2016
Further details:
EHU website