Apply Link:
Deadline: 31 January 2019, 16:00 Berlin Time
Please Note: This particular opportunity is open only to currently enrolled doctoral students from the University of Maryland, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, and the University of Leeds.
An area of conflict: the effects of agricultural subsidization on conservation goals worldwide
Project Summary
The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) (Germany), the University of Leeds (UoL) (UK), and the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) at the University of Maryland (UMD) (USA) are partnering to invite applications from highly qualified PhD students interested in an international collaborative synthesis research experience.
The goal of this new partnership is to enhance graduate-level synthesis training and capacity building for students working at the intersections of socio-environmental systems. By bringing together European and American cultures of PhD education and providing a genuine interdisciplinary research experience, this effort will blend and build upon previous efforts independently led by all three partner institutions (click here for more information about the Graduate Student Program at SESYNC and here for details about the Helmholtz Research School ESCALATE).
Over a period of approximately 12 months, participating students will have the opportunities to:
- Work and bridge divides in an international and highly diverse team
- Build and apply synthesis knowledge and skills in a real-life setting
- Collaboratively design a study, conduct research, and publish results
- Contribute empirical results to an important topic of debate
- Create a sustainable international network of young scholars interested in socio-environmental issues such as nature conservation, sustainable farming/food systems, and ecosystem services
Project Description
The international synthesis project is organized around a series of three workshops. The assembled team will examine feedbacks and linkages between agricultural subsidization and conservation goals in and around protected areas worldwide (e.g. Natura2000, Ramsar sites, National Parks, etc.). Specifically, the project will synthesize connections between ecological protection and/or restoration sites, literature on agricultural subsidization (e.g. EU Common Agricultural Policy), and data on agricultural yields and revenues. The exact research questions, data sources, and methodologies will be developed collaboratively at Workshop #1 based on the interests and skillsets of participating students
Submission Instructions:
Please complete the Expression of Interest form (pasted below) and send via email to Michael Beckmann (michael.beckmann@ufz.de). Please also include with your email an updated CV. Applications are due no later than 16:00 Berlin time on 31 January, 2019.
We will notify you on or before 28 February, 2019 as to whether your application has been successful. The selection of the candidates will be based on the information provided in the Expression of Interest and on the suitability and complementarity of individual skill-sets and experiences. Stage of degree will also be given consideration, with preference given to students with at least one year of completed doctoral studies.
For questions about the application process, University of Maryland students should email Nicole Motzer (nmotzer@sesync.org) and University of Leeds students should contact Guy Ziv (g.ziv@leeds.ac.uk).
Download the Expression of Interest form, here.