ESRC-Funded PhD Studentships in Economics

The PhD programme at Lancaster is aimed at high-calibre students who wish to pursue a research career in academia, government, research organisations, or in business. LUMS is a quadruple-accredited, world-ranked management school that has a reputation for outstanding research. In the UK’s latest Research Excellence Framework, REF 2021, we were rated as first for Research Power – recognising the breadth and depth of our work – and joint-first for our research environment, providing the perfect platform for future research talent to develop and flourish. In REF 2021, 90% of our research was rated world leading or internationally excellent. LUMS PhD graduates obtaining academic, research, demonstrate our commitment to high-quality doctoral research and consultancy positions in quality Institutions around the globe.

As a PhD student in this department, you will have access to advanced research training courses offered by the Department and by the ESRC-funded North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP). You will enjoy both close supervision by a group of well-established and highly qualified faculty members. Furthermore, you will also participate in many departmental activities such as our internal/external/PhD seminar series, subject-specific reading groups and departmental workshops and conferences.

The two ESRC studentships are outlined below.

Project Title: “Early Maternal Health Behaviours and Later Child Outcomes”

Primary Supervisor: Professor Ian Walker

Secondary Supervisor: Maria Navarro Paniagua

The project is concerned with the (causal) effect of early maternal health behaviours on long term educational outcomes. We are contemplating work on drinking/smoking while pregnant, breastfeeding, and Muslim mothers experiencing Ramadan while pregnant. There is flexibility for the student to diversify the portfolio of activity around this. We aim to co-design the details of the project with the successful candidate

Project Title: “The long term outcomes of children in care”

Primary Supervisor: Professor Ian Walker

Secondary Supervisor: Dr Charlotte Edney (Nuffield Observatory for Family Justice)

The project is concerned with the (causal) effect of being a “looked after child” on long term outcomes. But there is flexibility for the student to diversify the portfolio of activity around this.

How to apply

The Application deadline is February 28, 2023.

Applications should be made only through the Economics Department PhD application portal 

Applicants should provide a Personal Statement, which mentions that you are applying for one/both of these ESRC-funded post(s) (if only applying for one of the positions, please specify the title of the project you are interested in). In addition, please submit a Research Statement which outlines your research interests - including any ideas that YOU have that may be a good fit.  In particular, please mention your interest in, and suitability for, this specific research project. In the application portal, please submit this Research Statement in lieu of a personal Research Proposal.

Applicants must also submit:  a CV, Academic transcripts (bachelors and masters), 2 academic references, and evidence of English language proficiency (if necessary).

Informal enquiries can be addressed to ian.walker@lancaster.ac.uk

Not your field?

For information about our standard LUMS PhD scholarships, please visit Funding for PhD | Lancaster University