Coventry University - Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR), Coventry University

Full-Time – between three and three and a half years fixed term.

The Centre for Trust, Peace, and Social Relations (CTPSR) has over 60 full-time researchers supported by a team of professional support staff.  Our staff are extremely well-connected and are called upon to contribute their expertise on the national and international stage, as advisers to governments and international bodies or at conferences worldwide.

We take a multi-disciplinary approach to our work that brings together creative thinking on concerns of trust, communities, social relations, peacebuilding, security and on the contemporary challenges of societal relationships in a diverse and connected world.  Our portfolio of excellent and impactful research seeks to change lives and enhance well-being.  We convene and contribute to public debates, provide effective policy guidance at local, national, regional and global levels and generate international collaborative research through our global networks.

PhD topic: Pandemics as a non-traditional maritime security challenge – exploring the impact of COVID-19 on maritime trade and border management.

Maritime trade represents well over 80% of global trade flows and as such the effective movement of cargo is essential to economic stability and growth. While many states have responded to COVID-19 by closing borders, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of people (including seafarers) and goods through the maritime domain remains a prerequisite for global economic recovery.

Existing literature on the conceptualisation of maritime security doesn’t identify pandemics as one of the key contemporary challenges that affect maritime and human security.

The aim of this study is to examine the extent to which pandemics could be considered as a non-traditional maritime security challenge by utilising the case study of the recent COVID 19 outbreak. It will examine in depth the impact of the pandemic on maritime trade and border management within the framework of the measures implemented by the governments of the UK and Ireland (or one other EU country) to limit the spread of the virus.

The Studentship is available to UK and EU applicants only.

Entry criteria for applicants to PHD 

• A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average. 
  PLUS 
  the potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a 3.5 years
• a minimum of English language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component)

For further details see:  https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/making-an-application/

The applicant should hold a post-graduate degree in a relevant area, such as for example international security, international relations, maritime security, etc. 

All applications require full supporting documentation, a covering letter, plus an up to 2000-word supporting statement showing how the applicant’s expertise and interests are relevant to the project. Interview dates will be communicated directly to the shortlisted candidates and are expected to take place no later than the first week of November 2020, in view of the successful candidate’s starting date in the post in January 2021. 

To find out more about the project please contact Dr Ioannis Chapsos, [email protected]  

To apply on line please click on the 'Apply' button above.