[R-jobs] Five PhD Awards in Retail Big Data and Geographic Data Science (UCL and University of Liverpool)

[Alex Singleton]

Deadline - 6th February 2015

Five PhD awards to begin September 2015, (one including an additional MRes
award in Urban Sustainability and Resilience in collaboration with UCL’s
Centre for Urban Sustainability and Resilience), are available for work
associated with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded
Consumer Data Research Centre, based at University College London (UCL) and
the University of Liverpool. One of the studentships is the Boots Health
Informatics Award that will have specific focus upon health and wellbeing.

The awards are open to social scientists with a background in geography,
social statistics, political science, applied mathematics, planning or
sociology, to work with the retail sector as part of an exciting
multidisciplinary research centre. Working with academics and the retail
industry, you will investigate multidisciplinary topics such as the future
of the high street, the development and application of new methods of
retail analysis, the analysis of online and social media data relevant to
retailing, or the relationship between online and conventional shopping
opportunities.

The Boots Health Informatics PhD Scholarship 2015 will provide an
opportunity to work with cutting-edge data science technologies while
carrying out pioneering research in Geographic Information Science. The
successful applicant will also work in collaboration with the Boots’ data
analytics team and gain first-hand experience of working with a range of
unique consumer insight datasets.

Geographic Data Science at the Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC)
www.cdrc.ac.uk

The CDRC is a new Big Data investment that is passionate about data and
unlocking value through retail analytics and linkage to other Big Data. We
apply advanced social science analytics to better understand the
motivations and behaviours of consumers, and develop applications that are
relevant right across society. Award holders will be responsible for
developing and applying analytics, and linking datasets in order to develop
insights into today’s dynamic and fast-moving consumer markets. They will
join a team of researchers and retail analysts that is seeking to reshape
the ways in which consumer data can be used for the benefit of society at
large. You will also gain first- hand experience of working with one or
more of the UK’s leading retailers.

Funding

University of Liverpool: 2 x 3 year ESRC North West Doctoral Training
Centre (DTC) Research Studentships

Both studentships include an annual tax-free maintenance stipend for
full-time students of £14,210*. In addition, the studentship will pay for
all tuition fees.

University College London: 1 x 3 year ESRC project linked DTC Research
Studentship; 1 x 3 year UCL funded Research Studentship; 1 x four year
(1+3) ESRC/EPSRC multidisciplinary studentship

All studentships include an annual tax-free maintenance stipend for
full-time students of £14,180* and an additional £2,000 London Allowance.
In addition, the studentship will pay for all tuition fees.

In both the UCL and North West ESRC DTCs, Research Students will have
access to central funds to cover research related expenses, fieldwork,
collaborations and overseas institutional visits. Successful candidates may
be eligible, dependent upon circumstances, for stipend enhancements in
relation to multidisciplinary research and/or use of advanced quantitative
methods.

* This is an indicative amount. The exact amount is confirmed by RCUK
annually.​

Entry Requirements

Successful applicants will have a 1st class or high upper 2nd class BSc
degree or an MSc with Merit or Distinction in a quantitative social science
discipline. They must share our passion for data and be equally fascinated
by what we can learn from them. In addition, we welcome candidates that
also bring some practical experience gained in a commercial setting. There
are strict ESRC eligibility criteria, so please see
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/postgraduates/prospective-students/eligibility/index.aspx
before
applying.

The CDRC Website is http://cdrc.ac.uk/. To apply, please submit a CV and
supporting letter of application, demonstrating how you feel your skills
and experience are relevant to the CDRC, to Sarah Sheppard
s.sheppard using ucl.ac.uk. Please also state whether you would wish to be
considered for the 4 year ESRC/EPSRC multidisciplinary studentship and
whether you would like to be based at the University of Liverpool or UCL.
Candidates must also include a clear statement that they have read and
understood the ESRC eligibility criteria and confirm how they fulfill them.

-- 
Professor Alex Singleton
Chair of Geographic Information Science
Department of Geography and Planning
University of Liverpool
Email: alex.singleton using liverpool.ac.uk
Tel: 0151 7943108
Website: http://www.alex-singleton.com
Twitter: alexsingleton
Skype: alexsingleton

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