No of Scholarship positions: 2
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a PhD fellowship in Agri-Environmental Economics and a PhD fellowship in Aquaculture Economics with the Discipline of Economics at the National University of Ireland, Galway.
These positions are funded by Teagasc under a Walsh Fellowship and through the Beaufort Research Award and are for a 4 year and a 3 year period respectively, commencing in late October 2014.
The agri-environmental student will be expected to undertake research that is of interest to Teagascâs core objective of the Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture. The student will use econometric methods and micro farm level panel data to examine a number of issues in the general agri-environmental economics area. The aqua-economics student will be expected to undertake research related to the concept of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA).
Description:
Using a collection of essays approach to their thesis, the topics to be considered by the agri-environmental student may include but not be limited to: evaluating the effectiveness of agri-environmental policy design and targeting, understanding farmer behaviour in the context of participation and non-participation in agri-environmental programmes, estimating the cost to farmers in Ireland and the EU of agri-environmental measures such as the Greening of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and/or examine the environmental benefits delivered by Greening and other agri-environmental schemes. The first essay will address the problems of agri-environmental policy design in the context of the CAP and in particular will focus on the likely impact of the Greening measures on farm income but also in delivering positive externalities.
The second PhD will focus on the development of an IMTA bio-economic model for a fin fish farm located in Ireland which will simulate the impact of alternative biological decisions on outcome measures such as profit and also potentially on environmental issues. This approach accounts for the fact that value generation is not limited to the fish farm. Rather value is only fully generated once the consumer purchases and consumes the product. Thus the supply chain, processing, logistics, retail and preparation influence this.
Qualifications:
Candidates should have a first or upper second-class honors degree in agricultural economics, environmental economics or a related subject. Candidates should also have excellent communication and organizational skills; be highly motivated and have strong documentation, oral and interpersonal skills.
Fellowship: The fellowship provides a stipend of â¬21,000 per annum. University fees are paid by the student from the stipend. The Fellowship will start as soon as possible.
Start date: The Fellowship will start as soon as possible after 1st of October.
Further information about the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics is available at http://www.nuigalway.ie/business-public-policy-law/cairnes/.
To Apply:
Applications to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of two referees should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to Dr Stephen Hynes by email
Email: stephen.hynes@nuigalway.ie
Please put reference number NUIG-PhD EC in subject line of e-mail application as well as the particular PhD that you are interested in.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm September 30th 2013