ESRC PhD studentships in Advanced Quantitative Methods - The deadline for applications for studentships starting in autumn 2012 is Friday 17 February 2012. All applications should be via the University's online form.
The Advanced Quantitative Methods (AQM) pathway of the SWDTC offers ESRC +3 postgraduate research training in the application of advanced quantitative methods in the social sciences and health. The ESRC has designated AQM as a priority area, and the purpose of the pathway is to provide training and supervision that emphasizes quantitative methods to a higher level than is usually offered. Core training is offered in the following areas: advanced quantitative research design; categorical data analysis; multilevel modelling; longitudinal data analysis; multivariate methods; spatial data analysis; and policy evaluation.
The AQM pathway is for social science students who wish to develop their quantitative research skills, and in particular who wish to focus on learning advanced methods for secondary data analysis. Students will then apply these methods in their PhD research to address substantive questions in their social science discipline. For example, we encourage applications from those who wish to develop realistically complex statistical models in order to understand social phenomenon or test sophisticated social-scientific hypotheses.
The AQM pathway is equally for students who wish to specialise in the development of quantitative methods to address important but more generic social science questions, rather than specific applications to a substantive topic. As such, applications are welcome from those with backgrounds in statistical disciplines.
Follow these links:
AQM is offered as an ESRC +3 pathway and so applicants should have masters level training in a social science discipline, public health or statistics. As students will have followed different disciplinary pathways in their masters years of doctoral training, the only prerequisite for AQM is a familiarity with intermediate-level quantitative techniques. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are familiar with multiple regression. Students will be selected on the basis of performance in previous quantitative methods courses (e.g. at undergraduate and masters levels). Students will have to provide a reference letter from a tutor who can assess their quantitative skills.
It is also important that students have a solid grounding in the substantive discipline to which they wish to apply advanced quantitative methods. It is expected that this will be provided by the masters '+1' phase of their postgraduate training.
Students will be expected to start on 1st October 2012.
Along with other Research Councils, the ESRC has agreed to relax the rules around international eligibility in strategic areas including Advanced Quantitative Methods, allowing fees and stipends to be paid for students from outside the UK. Applicants should check that they satisfy the University of Bristol's English language entry requirements policy.
We are looking to award up to four studentships per year.
An ESRC studentship covers University tuition fees plus an annual maintenance stipend to contribute towards living expenses. Further details… In addition, AQM students qualify for the ESRC AQM stipend of £3,000 per year. Each studentship also includes a Research Support Grant of £750 per year to encourage students to attend conferences and additional courses external to the University.
We are particularly keen to attract: