[UK] PhD Scholarship in Transport and Society at University of The West of England

PhD Studentship funded by Great Western Research and Stagecoach Devon Implications of Free Senior Citizens` Bus Travel for the Sustainability Contribution of Bus Networks.

Introduction
The decision to offer free travel to people over 60 years of age on local bus services throughout England was one of the most important policy measures affecting the sector for years. Despite this importance, the policy was subject to little analysis prior to implementation.

Although proving popular with beneficiaries, in the last two years the policy has emerged as highly controversial with bus companies and local authorities charged with its implementation and amongst other interests in the transport sector competing for scare public resources. The three-year full-time PhD opportunity is supported with a studentship co-funded by Stagecoach Devon, the principal provider of public bus services in the County of Devon, and the South West Regional Development Agency, through the Great Western Research initiative.

It will examine the wider implications of the policy of encouraging additional travel in terms of the benefits over-60s experience, the overall mix of bus passengers, the resource and environmental costs, and implications of the subsidy for bus regulation. In addition the success with which additional demand for bus travel was predicted as a result of the policy will be examined.

The supervisory team brings together research experience in respect of transport policy evaluation, travel behaviour and public transport regulation, combining it with private sector bus industry expertise and further public sector assistance from Torbay Council, the local authority responsible for one of areas most affected by the policy.

The successful applicant will pursue his or her studies in a social scientific context, working towards award of a University of the West of England doctoral degree. The student will be a member of both the Centre for Transport & Society (UWE) and the Centre for Sustainable Transport (Plymouth) specialist transport research groups. In addition s/he will benefit from the facilities of the UWE Faculty of Environment and Technology’s Graduate School, which offers excellent research training following Economic & Social Research Council guidelines. The candidate will also maintain close working relationships with Stagecoach Devon and Torbay Council.

The candidate
The successful applicant will have a broad interest in the importance of promoting sustainable mobility and an understanding of the importance of conducting objective evaluations of policy initiatives. S/he will have a good first degree or Master’s degree in a relevant discipline such as geography, economics, transport or environmental studies. Ideally the candidate will have experience of applying mixed-methods research methodologies and be willing to acquire additional skills such as questionnaire and database preparation, statistical analysis, GIS analysis, or qualitative interviewing and textual analysis as necessary.

The successful candidate will have excellent communication and personal management skills, able to optimise use of the specialist range of resources offered by the two supervisors and their universities and the private and public sector partners.

Studentship
The PhD studentship covers fees and pays a stipend for three years. The stipend will be equivalent to the research council rate of £12,940 in the 2008/09 academic year with cost of living adjustments in years 2 and 3.

Eligibility to apply
There are no nationality or residency restrictions on applications being considered, but the opportunity is available for full-time study only and the successful candidate should be in a position to begin study promptly.

Further information
For an informal discussion about the post please contact :
Dr Graham Parkhurst Further details about the research topic can be downloaded here.
(http://www.transport.uwe.ac.uk/opportunities/GWR-PhD.asp )

Application process
Submission of an application:

• Application form
• Guidance notes

Formal applications should be submitted electronically, if possible, to Ruth Farajian:
Ruth Farajian,
Faculty of the Built Environment,
University of the West of England,
Frenchay Campus,
Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY.
Tel: 0117 32 83012
Email: Ruth2.Farajian@uwe.ac.uk

A full CV should accompany the application form.
Individuals are encouraged to make clear in their application why they are attracted to this studentship opportunity and what credentials they have to suggest that they are well suited to addressing this research and become part of the CTS team.

Applicants for whom English is not their first language will need to supply evidence of their proficiency in English. The standard required is a British Council IELTS score of 6.5 or above (equivalent to a paper-based TOEFL score of 600 or a computer based TOEFL score of 250).

Key Dates
Closing date for applications: 17th March 2008.
It is intended that interviews will be held on 31st March 2008.