PhD studentship opportunity at University College London in migration statistics and modelling.

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PHD Studentship – (ENFOLD-ing – Explaining, Modelling and Forecasting Global Dynamics), –

UCL Department / Division

Department of Geography

Specific unit / Sub department

Migration Research Unit/CASA

Duration of Studentship

3 Years

Stipend

£15,290 plus £3,390 tuition fees per annum

Vacancy Information

ENFOLD is a multidisciplinary, five year modelling project funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC: £2.9 million FEC) spanning seven UCL departments. It will develop new forms of complexity science to address the most difficult of human problems: those involving global change where there is no organised constituency and whose agencies are largely regarded as being ineffective. ENFOLD addresses problems arising from the fact that that global systems tend to be treated in isolation from one another. Their characteristically unexpected dynamics are thus due to the aspects of coupling and integration between them that are all too often ignored. To demonstrate these dynamics and develop appropriate policy responses, ENFOLD will study four related global systems: trade, migration, security and development aid. Integrated and coupled models will be developed, whose dynamics can be described in the language of complexity theory, including chaos, turbulence, bifurcations, catastrophes, and phase transition. The programme will apply spatial interaction models to trade and migration; reaction diffusion to conflicts and terrorism; and network models to international trade, migration and crime. These models will be extended to incorporate new events, such as the emergence of new entities, including countries, coupling them together in diverse ways. A generic framework will ultimately be developed for a coupled global dynamics spanning many spatial and temporal scales, pertaining to different systems whose behaviours can be both quantitatively and qualitatively simulated. Models will be developed which incorporate all these ideas into a global intelligence system to inform global policy makers about future events. Several UK government departments as well as global businesses are partners in this project.

Studentship Description

The role of the Migration PhD studentship within ENFOLD will be:

1. To review and engage with the literature on general theories of migration and more specifically that on migration forecasting models

2. To identify, collect, systematise and analyse relevant international migration statistics as required by the project

3. To assist in the programming and database effort for the migration model in ENFOLD

4. To develop and test several models of global migration dynamics

Person Specification

The applicants should possess a good honours degree (1st Class or 2:1 minimum) in any of the following disciplines: Economics, Statistics, Physics, Mathematics, Finance, or in any social science program with a strong quantitative component within Geography, Sociology, Epidemiology/ Public Health, GIS, Spatial Analysis or any other closely relevant subject area. An MSc in one of these areas or/and knowledge in econometric and statistical analysis is highly desirable. They should also have excellent quantitative research skills in social sciences including a good command of statistical analysis and programming knowledge of relevant packages (R, SAS,SPSS). As well as strong motivation to conduct independent research on the field of migration and basic knowledge of contemporary issues on migration.

Eligibility

The studentship is subject to funding restrictions please refer to the following link:http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/students/Pages/eligibility.aspx.

Candidates should submit an application for graduate study to UCL Registry (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/admission/graduate-study/application-admission/) and should send a duplicate, along with a CV and cover letter, to Dr Pablo Mateos via email top.mateos@ucl.ac.uk.

Contact name

Dr Pablo Mateos

Contact details

p.mateos@ucl.ac.uk

UCL Taking Action for Equality

Closing Date

30 Jun 2010

Latest time for the submission of applications

30th June 2010

Interview date

Mid July 2010

Studentship Start Date

1st October 2010

The Oxford Institute of Ageing would be more than happy to host joint applications with prospective Fellows and invites applications for the Marie Curie fellowships detailed below.

The Oxford Institute of Ageing (OIA), University of Oxford, is a multi-disciplinary research institute which believes that the production of high quality, strategic research, which informs and is informed by good policy and practice, will lead to a greater understanding of societies as they age.

1. Intra-European Fellowships for career development (IEF)

Researchers from EU Member States or Associated Countries can apply for an IEF; you must have a doctoral degree or at least 4 years full-time equivalent post-graduate research experience. The Fellowship offers financial support for 12-24 months.

Deadline: 18 August 2009

2. International Incoming Fellowship (IIF)

Researchers from “Third Countries” (all countries outside the European Union that are not recognised as an Associated Country) can apply for an IIF; you must have a doctoral degree or at least 4 years full-time equivalent postgraduate research experience. The Fellowship offers financial support for 12-24 months; there is the possibility to fund a “return period” if you are coming from an International Cooperation Partner Country.

Deadline: 18 August 2009

More information here.

If you would be interested in applying for one of the above mentioned schemes, please contact Dr Andreas Hoff andreas.hoff@ageing.ox.ac.uk in the first instance. Submission deadline for receipt of expressions of interest is 15 June 2009.

Master’s degrees  in population studies: £15,000 scholarships available

Are you thinking about doing a Master’s degree in the field of population studies in 2009/2010?

Students accepted for the

MSc in Population and Development, or
MSc Health, Population and Society, or
MSC Social Research Methods (Population)

at the LSE will be eligible to be considered for nomination for a £15,000 scholarship from the ESRC-PIC.

Details of the degrees can be found at:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/graduateProspectus2009/taughtProgrammes/MScPopulationAndDevelopment.htm
http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/graduateProspectus2009/taughtProgrammes/MScHealthPopulationAndSociety.htm
http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/graduateProspectus2009/taughtProgrammes/MScSocialResearchMethods.htm

You can specialise in population studies in either developed or developing countries.

Residential eligibility for the studentships will be according to the ESRC’s criteria. In particular, all candidates should have settled status in the UK and have been ordinarily resident here for at least three years. Residence in the UK as full-time student does not qualify non-EU nationals for an award.

For further information, please contact Dr Ernestina Coast (e.coast@lse.ac.uk).

Nominations for scholarships close on July 13th, and you will need to have been accepted onto one of the MScs in order to be considered for nomination.

Scottish Human Geography Consortium

TWO ESRC Postgraduate Research Studentship Opportunities (1+3/+3), 2009 start

The Scottish Human Geography Consortium incorporates human geography delivery units at the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St. Andrews, and Strathclyde. It provides ESRC-recognised specialist postgraduate training in the form of the Kindrogan Postgraduate Training Weekend and other activities, and has played a central role in cultivating a vibrant and meaningful Scotland-wide network of postgraduate scholars.
The Consortium studentships allow the successful applicants to draw on the rich range of resources offered by Scottish-based human geography programmes. The successful applicants will be registered in one university, and normally jointly supervised by staff from one other university in the Consortium. Applicants and potential supervisors will work together to establish which cross-institutional arrangement would best serve the student and project.
Applicants for +3 must hold an ESRC-recognised Masters (or equivalent). Students pursuing a 1+3 model are eligible to enter any of the ESRC-recognised Masters Research training programmes run by Consortium members.

UK Applicants receive full fees plus maintenance. Non-resident EU Applicants receive fees only. EU Applicants resident in the UK for at least three years are normally eligible for fees plus maintenance.
[For further details: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/Images/Postgraduate%20Funding%20Guide%20-%20January%202009_tcm6-12067.pdf]

Applications must include 8 copies of the following: a letter of application stating which institution/s and supervisor/s the applicant would seek to affiliate with; a CV; a two page outline of the proposed research topic; and two sealed letters of reference (note: only 1 copy of references required).

Contact for enquiries and applications:
Dr Ed Hall,
Studentship Convenor,
Scottish Human Geography Consortium,
Geography, School of Social and Environmental Sciences,
University of Dundee,
Perth Road, Dundee DD1 4HN.
Email: e.c.hall@dundee.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1382 388073

Division of Social Statistics, School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton

Applications are invited for PhD studentships in demography and in social statistics in the Division of Social Statistics, University of Southampton. These are ESRC quota awards that may be on a 1+3 or +3 basis, i.e. funding for a 1-year MSc in Demography or in Social Statistics, followed by three years of doctoral research, or for three years of doctoral research where candidates already have appropriate research training. Students in receipt of these awards are potentially eligible for a stipend enhanced by £3,000 in respect of advanced quantitative training (see Section 4.9 of the ESRC’s “Guidance notes..”). Applications in the following areas are particularly welcome:

Demography and well-being
Fertility
Family and partnership
International and internal migration
Population and health
Reproductive health
Statistical modelling of social data
Sample survey methodology

Details of eligibility for ESRC postgraduate studentships are given in Section 2 of the ESRC’s “Guidance notes for applicants,” available online at:  http://www.esrc.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/Images/GUIDANCE%20MARK%202_tcm6-7186.pdf

Further details of these studentships, and how to apply for them, are available at:
http://www.soton.ac.uk/socsci/socstats/funding/esrc.html

The deadline for applications is 6 March 2009, but late applications may be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Further postgraduate studentships may be available that are not subject to ESRC eligibility restrictions.

Informal enquiries may be made to:
Prof. Máire Ní Bhrolcháin: mnb2@soton.ac.uk or John Jerrim: jpj106@soton.ac.uk (Demography) and
Dr. Yves Berger Y.G.Berger@soton.ac.uk (Social Statistics)

We would like to draw your attention to Popfest 2009, the 17th annual conference of postgraduate students in Population-related studies. Popfest 2009 will be taking place from the 2nd July to the 4th of July 2009, and will be hosted by the Population At LSE research students at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Popfest is organised by postgraduates, for postgraduates, and is an event which aims to give researchers in Social Science, Demography, Human Geography, Social Anthropology, Social Statistics, Development, Health, Social Policy and other related fields, a relaxed and supportive forum to meet and present their research.

Popfest 2009 is now ready to accept abstracts for papers and posters. We welcome contributions from postgraduate students studying any aspect of population.

Please forward this on to anyone who you feel might be interested in participating in this event.

Deadline for submission of abstracts: 20 April 2009
Deadline for registration: 08 May 2009

The conference registration fee for Popfest 2009 is £25 which covers all conference materials, lunches on 6th and 7th of July, refreshments, and a conference dinner.

For further information and on-line abstract submission please visit our conference website: http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/BSPS/postgraduates/PopFest.htm