[Air-L] Fwd: UK PhD Studentship (Oct 08 start): "Small Area Estimates of Of Social And Digital Exclusion"

[Ben Anderson]

this is another one that may interest your students....

> Please forward to potentially interested students
>
> http://www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk/node/3235
>
> Deadline = 31st July 08
>
> To apply please email a CV and covering letter (both in pdf format)  
> to Dr Ben Anderson (benander at essex.ac.uk).
>
> Standard ESRC eligibility criteria apply - basically you either need  
> to be an EU citizen (fees only) or have been resident in the UK for  
> 4 years (full studentship). But please contact me if in any doubt.
>
> many thanks
> Ben
> ----
> Dr Ben Anderson
> Director, Technology & Social Change Research Centre
> University of Essex
> http://istr.essex.ac.uk/tasc/
>
> **********************
> ISTR - Institute for Social and Technical Research
> University of Essex
> Subjects: Economics | Geography - Human | Information Sciences |  
> Media and Communications | Population Studies | Telecommunications
>
> Full Title: "Developing And Refining Approaches To Estimating Small  
> Area Social Indicators Of Social And Digital Exclusion"
>
> This ESRC/Welsh Assembly Government funded Collaborative  
> Governmental Studentship will be based in ISTR’s Technology and  
> Social Change Research Centre (TaSC - http://istr.essex.ac.uk/tasc/)  
> and will provide an opportunity to carry out research and training  
> in a three-year programme leading to a PhD.
>
> Academic Supervisors:
> Dr Ben Anderson and Dr Paul Stoneman
>
> Project Details:
>
> There has been considerable recent interest in the estimation of non- 
> census variables at the small area level using a range of approaches  
> that go under the term 'spatial microsimulation'. These have been  
> driven by an agenda that assumes that 'Governments need to predict  
> the outcomes of their actions and produce forecasts at the local  
> level.' (Openshaw 1995). This agenda requires the creation of  
> datasets which measure the attributes of individuals, households or  
> other micro-data units (such as firms) and which generate a  
> synthetic census made up of these units to produce robust estimates  
> of these attributes at the small area level.
>
> Recent work conducted by TaSC and funded by the Welsh Assembly  
> Government has adapted these techniques to the estimation of small  
> area levels of income deprivation and child poverty. These  
> preliminary studies have demonstrated the potential value of this  
> approach not only to the estimation of small area social indicators  
> but also to the estimation of within-area inequalities and to the  
> modeling of the spatial effects of potential policy interventions.
>
> The main objectives of this studentship are to:
> • develop improved and/or novel methods for spatially  
> microsimulating income and deprivation indices and
> • apply these developments to the estimation of small area  
> indicators of a) consumption poverty and b) digital exclusion with a  
> focus on within as well as cross-area measures
>
> In addition to the research programme the studentship will involve  
> periods of secondment to the WAG in each of the three years of  
> study. Although pursuing their own research agenda the student will  
> be expected to work closely with and contribute to the research team  
> and the programme in which they will be embedded.
>
> This studentship would suit a quantitative Social Geographer or  
> Social Scientist with an interest in modeling spatial distributions  
> of social outcomes. Applicants must have evidence of suitable  
> research training before starting this ‘+3’ mode studentship.  
> Normally this would be in the form of a suitable (e.g. ESRC  
> recognised) Masters degree with a strong research training element.
>
> Applications are therefore invited from graduates with a first or  
> upper second class degree AND who have or are expecting to achieve a  
> Masters level qualification (or equivalent) in a demonstrably  
> relevant discipline.
>
> Desirable experience, skills and attributes would also include one  
> or more of the following:
> • The ability to engage with non-academic researchers
> • The ability to work as part of a collaborative team
> • An interest in the relationship between social and technological  
> change
>
> The studentship offers funding for a period of 3 years for research  
> towards a PhD starting on 1st October 2008. The studentship covers  
> fees, research expenses and a tax-free living allowance which  
> includes an additional payment of £2,000 per annum over and above  
> the standard RCUK stipend.
>
> To apply please email a CV and covering letter (both in pdf format)  
> to Dr Ben Anderson (benander at essex.ac.uk).