Regional Studies Association

We are offering a fully funded PhD scholarship in the Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment for one UK candidate starting in October 2026. This fully funded PhD placeprovidesan exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research onthe political economy ofthe UK'sindustrial transformation.The scholarship will be part of theProduction and Consumption Transformations (PACT) Centre which is funded by UK Research and Innovation(UKRI)and theUK GovernmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net Zero(DESNZ). Theprojectwillfocus on thepolitical economy ofproduction and consumption transformations in the UK.We are particularly interested inexamining (1) the political-economic dynamics along production-consumption chainswithin specific sectorsand strategies for intervention, (2) the actors, coalitions, and institutional arrangements that can align industrial strategy with climate and social-ecological goals, and (3) the policy levers needed to bridge production and consumption to catalyse systemic change.As part of this PhD scholarship, there isan optionto spend up to six months at DESNZ through a secondment. The PhD scholarship will be part of the Production and Consumption Transformations (PACT ) Centre which is funded by UK Research and Innovation and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (). The PACT centre examines options for the UK to meet its carbon reduction targets through transformations of production and consumption systems. This PhD project takes a political economy approach to examine howstructural conditions - such as modes of regulation, systems of economic governance, geopolitical and geoeconomic shifts, capital dynamics, and prevailing norms - interact withkey actors, including labour and capital factions, consumers, civil society, and the state. Itinvestigatesthese interactionswithin a specificsector(e.g., construction, automotive) andalong production-consumption chains, from extraction and manufacturing to distribution and end-user consumption. The goal isto understand howthese dynamicsenable or constrainsystemicchanges in production and consumption.As such, theproject also explores strategic entry points, alliances, and institutional arrangements that can align industrial strategy with short-term climate goals (2030) and long-term resilience (2050), while alsoconsideringbroader implicationsforthe nature crisis and the need to ensure a just transition. Key research questions may include: What are the specific political-economic dynamics at different points along production-consumption chains, and how do they enable or constrain systemic changes in production and consumption? What strategies for intervention are most effective at different points in this chain? Which actors, coalitions, and institutional arrangements can align industrial strategy with climate and social-ecological goals, and under what political-economic conditions is thisfeasible? What policy levers and institutional arrangements are most effective in bridging production and consumption to catalyse systemic transformation? Applicants with a background inEcological Economics;Politics, Philosophy and Economics;Political Economy;Political and Social Ecology;Governance Studies;Human Geography;Public Policy;Sociology(especially with a focus on sustainability or economic systems); andEnvironmental StudiesorSustainability Scienceare particularly encouraged to apply. The Leeds-based research team worksclosely with the other partners and collaborators in the Centre (e.g. University of Sussex, Lancaster University and DESNZ) and there is an opportunity to network and work directly with them as part ofthePhD programme.Moreover,as part of this PhD scholarship, there isan optionto spend up to six months at DESNZ through a secondment.

The Department of Geography and Environment at Loughborough University is the birthplace of the world leading Globalization and World Cities (GaWC ) research network and home to the multi million pound Centre for Sustainable Transitions: Energy, Environment and Resilience (STEER ) andCities research group. Placed in the Top 50 in the latest QS World Rankings, the Department of Geography and Environment was ranked 3rd in the UK for research impact and 8th for the excellence of our research environment in the most recent UK Research Excellence Framework. We lead international research on cities and globalization, accelerating the transition to inclusive, sustainable and resilient systems for cities and regions around the world. We have extensive experience of supervising doctoral research on Urban China and welcome proposals for doctoral research in any area relating to this. Invitations are invited from PhD candidates with ideas for projects relating to GaWC research featuring the theme of Urban China. This could include topics such as: Global cities and city networks in China City cluster, megaregions (chéng shì qún) and polycentric urban regions (PURs) in China Comparative urban research involving China and Chinese cities Urban rural regional policy and spatial planning in China (e.g. China's National Urbanization Plan) Urban analytics to solve challenges relating to urban China The financialization of urban China Geographies of knowledge sharing, business networks and production networks, digital business models and professional mobility in China The place of creative and cultural industries in urban China Gentrification and studentification in urban China Urban adaptation, climate resilience and environmental governance in urban China Governance models and policies supporting just and sustainable urban futures in China Planning urban, regional and rural futures in China Fees for the 2026-27 academic year apply to projects starting in October 2026, February 2027 and July 2027. UK tuition fees for 2026/27 are currently to be confirmed pending the release of the UKRI recommended rates. Once published, these rates will be subject to formal approval by the University before being confirmed. Opportunity Details Target Start Date: October 2026 Full time or part time available. Open to UK and international applicants. How to Apply We welcome discussions with interested candidates. Step 1: Interested applicants should first contact Prof. John Harrison ( ) to discuss your research interests and funding options. Step 2: Applicants are then strongly encouraged to contact potential supervisors with a CV, academic transcripts, and confirmation of funding sources or planned funding sources.

A UK university specializing in geography invites PhD candidates to develop research proposals related to Urban China under the GaWC framework. The role offers a chance to work on critical urban issues and contribute to pioneering studies. Candidates can apply from October 2026 or February 2027, with encouragement to initiate contact with faculty members for guidance on research interests and funding. This opportunity welcomes both UK and international applicants.