Institute for Climate and Society

SFI Co-Centre for Climate+ Biodiversity + Water PhD scholarship

Project title: Analysing public understanding of climate change, biodiversity loss, and water quality

Dublin City University

Dublin City University (www.dcu.ie) is a research-intensive, globally-engaged, dynamic institution. With 5 Faculties and 24 Schools, DCU is distinguished by both the quality and impact of its graduates and its focus on the translation of knowledge into societal and economic benefit. DCU has over 20,000 students spread across three academic campuses in the Glasnevin- Drumcondra area of North Dublin. Thanks to its innovative approach to teaching and learning, the University offers a transformative student experience that helps to develop highly sought- after graduates. Excellence in its education and research activities has led to its consistent position in the rankings of the world’s top young universities. For example, DCU has been ranked 59^th worldwide in the Times Higher Young University rankings for 2024.

DCU School of Communications

DCU’s School of Communications is a research active school with world-class faculty. It ranks in the top 200 departments in the world for Communications and Media Studies worldwide. The School has a rigorous structured PhD programme and a vibrant, international cohort of almost 50 PhD students.

DCU Institute for Climate and Society

The DCU Institute for Climate and Society is Ireland’s first academic research centre devoted to promoting perspectives on climate change from the social sciences and humanities. The mission of the Centre is to shape and support societal responses to climate change in Ireland and around the world. There are three interdependent pillars to our work: our research activities; our teaching; and our engagement and outreach. The Centre’s research, education, and engagement activities start from the premise that the solutions to climate change are available, and that the blocks to action are to be found in social processes and dynamics. The Centre examines how different social arenas such as politics, media, education, business and policy can influence climate action.

The Climate + co-centre

The Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water is a research co-centre led by Trinity College Dublin and Queens University Belfast, with partner institutions across Ireland and the UK. The co-centre is funded by Research Ireland, the UK’s Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). DCU is the host institution for one of the co-centre’s research platforms, focused on the social sciences. See https://www.climatecocentre.org/ for more information.

The PhD project

This project aims to understand how certain communities of interest – rural, farming, fishing, border, and coastal communities – think about environmental issues by analysing the media they consume and create. The project looks at social media content created by individuals, organisations, and other relevant entities in order to examine how environmental issues are constructed, both textually and visually.

The position

This is a full time PhD position within the newly established Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water and funded by Science Foundation Ireland. The Co-Centre brings together 14 higher education and research institutions across Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain, with the vision to be a home of research, innovation, and policy development across the interlinked challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and water.

The scholarship will provide a stipend of EUR 25,000 per annum and will cover EU fees, both for four years. Some funding for research equipment, materials, fieldwork, and conference travel will also be provided.

The PhD student will be supervised by Dr. David Robbins in the School of Communications. The student will be provided with training in research design, as well as qualitative and quantitative research methods, and will be given the opportunity to undertake other coursework as appropriate, and to develop relevant transferrable skills. They will be encouraged to attend international conferences. In accordance with DCU regulations for PhD students, the PhD student will be subject to an annual progress review. Progression will be dependent on demonstration of satisfactory performance.

Requirements

The successful candidate is required to:

Hold a Master’s degree media studies, communications studies, environmental studies, computer studies, or a cognate discipline (or equivalent) with first class honours or high second class honours;
Have a demonstrated understanding of climate change, biodiversity and/or water politics and policy;
Have some experience, knowledge, or interest in quantitative research methods, particularly analysis of large data sets;
Have some knowledge of, or interest in acquiring, visual analysis and/or research methods focused on visual representations;
Have excellent written and oral communication skills;
Pre-existing knowledge of Irish and UK media landscapes and media approaches to climate change is an asset;
Relevant professional experience is an asset.

Closing date May 1, 2025

Informal enquiries to:

Dr. David Robbins, Associate Professor, School of Communications: david.robbins@dcu.ie.

Application procedure:

Applications should be submitted by email to commsschooloffice@dcu.ie using the subject line “Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water PhD scholarship” and include:

One-page motivation letter explaining the candidate’s interest in pursuing a PhD on this topic;
Curriculum vitae listing academic qualifications, research experience, and publications;
Sample of written work (2,000–4,000 words);
Copy of the highest degree obtained and transcript of academic grades;
Contact details of at least two references.

Institute for Climate and Society - PhD Scholarship 2025