EPSRC
Supervisors: Professor Kevin J. Gaston and Dr Fiona Mathews
We are inviting applications for this EPSRC funded PhD studentship to commence as soon as possible. For eligible students the award will cover UK/EU tuition fees and an annual stipend (in 2013/14 this will be £13,726 for full-time students, pro rata for part-time students) and research costs for three years for students who meet the eligibility requirements outlined by EPSRC (see http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/Pages/eligibility.aspx). Students from EU countries who do not meet the residency requirements may still be eligible for a fees-only award. Students from outside of the EU would not be eligible for this award.
This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding. Studentships will be awarded on the basis of merit.
Successful applicants will be based within the Environment and Sustainability Institute (Cornwall campus, near Falmouth) and the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter. There will be joint supervision from Dr Fiona Mathews at the Streatham Campus, Exeter, and the student will attend meetings and workshops in both locations.
Street-lighting intensity and distribution has increased dramatically since the 1930s, and is now one of the most pervasive forms of environmental pollution. In the wake of the global financial crisis, and response to the need to cut public expenditure, local authorities in the UK and elsewhere are seeking to reduce the costs of street lighting systems. A range of approaches are being employed, including improved control of lighting networks via central management systems, switching to alternative lighting technologies (particularly LEDs), dimming of lights and part-night lighting. At the same time, concerns continue to rise over negative impacts of artificial nighttime lighting on a diverse range of issues, including human health and well being, aesthetics (e.g. views of nighttime sky), and the functioning of ecosystems. This provides a highly unusual opportunity in which financial benefits and the solutions to environmental concerns may be potentially well aligned…
We are looking for candidates with an outstanding academic record, who combine an aptitude for quantitative data analysis with the ability to conduct physically-demanding field work across the South-West of England. Previous experience of Geographical Information Systems would be an advantage. You must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in a relevant subject.
The closing date for applications is midnight on 8th September 2013.
For full project details, instructions on how to apply and a link to the application form, go to the apply button below.