Social Sciences – Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) PhD Studentship

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All postgraduate researchers (PGRs) are registered in the University’s Graduate School and housed in the faculty or department that is most appropriate for the project on which they are working. PGRs working on social science projects are often housed in the Department of History, Geography and Social Sciences, but there are many other areas of the University in which researchers working on particular social science projects may be based.

Social Work & Social Policy (SW&SP) research at Edge Hill University (EHU) is centred on work undertaken within the Department of History, Geography and Social Sciences, based in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), and cross-Faculty thematic collaborations involving the departments of Social Work (DSW) and Applied Health and Social Care (DAHSC) in the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine (FHSC), and the Faculty of Education (FoE). Social Sciences at EHU has a mature and dynamic research culture and a well-established tradition of excellence in research, evidenced by a record of work and publications recognized as being of national and international importance. The department contributes substantially to the methodological training of doctoral researchers in the University, drawing on bespoke expertise from its research centres and groups.

Our research includes work on a range of diverse subjects, with a particular focus on researching with, for, and by children and young people. This includes work theorising youth and exploring youth cultures and youth transitions, youth, community and social policy, children’s world’s and peer interactions, voicing children and young people within the policy-making process, international perspectives on childhood and youth, migration and identity. We also undertake research on critical autism studies, sociology of the body, child protection, human animal studies, gender, participatory research, religion, sexuality, safeguarding, citizenship, and work on conflict, post-conflict transition and human rights.

At the heart of this diversity, and what draws us together, is a long-standing commitment to promoting equality and progressive social change by adopting critical social scientific perspectives and undertaking inquiry into policy-relevant areas and issues specifically designed to counter discrimination and inequality, particularly on the grounds of disability, ethnicity, gender and sexuality. Our work employs social science methodologies in order to gives and amplify voices to the socially excluded and those often rendered invisible in the policy realm. Our research is regularly conducted with third sector organisations.

The University particularly welcomes applications for studentships in the project areas outlined below with additional research information on the research area webpages. All PGRs will be supported by a supervisory team with appropriate expertise. Also, see the University’s research repository for further information on the research outputs of each member of staff.

Please direct all enquiries about proposed projects on topics related to Social Sciences to Dr Chris Greenough, Graduate School Research Degree Coordinator for social work and social policy, stating the specific research theme/s of interest from the research themes list.

Research themes

Research proposals are invited on the following: