Deadline - 6th February 2015

Five PhD awards to begin September 2015, (one including an additional 
MRes award in Urban Sustainability and Resilience in collaboration with 
UCL’s Centre for Urban Sustainability and Resilience), are available for 
work associated with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) 
funded Consumer Data Research Centre, based at University College London 
(UCL) and the University of Liverpool. One of the studentships is the 
Boots Health Informatics Award that will have specific focus upon health 
and wellbeing.

The awards are open to social scientists with a background in geography, 
social statistics, political science, applied mathematics, planning or 
sociology, to work with the retail sector as part of an exciting 
multidisciplinary research centre. Working with academics and the retail 
industry, you will investigate multidisciplinary topics such as the 
future of the high street, the development and application of new 
methods of retail analysis, the analysis of online and social media data 
relevant to retailing, or the relationship between online and 
conventional shopping opportunities.

The Boots Health Informatics PhD Scholarship 2015 will provide an 
opportunity to work with cutting-edge data science technologies while 
carrying out pioneering research in Geographic Information Science. The 
successful applicant will also work in collaboration with the Boots’ 
data analytics team and gain first-hand experience of working with a 
range of unique consumer insight datasets.

Geographic Data Science at the Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC) 
www.cdrc.ac.uk <http://www.cdrc.ac.uk>

The CDRC is a new Big Data investment that is passionate about data and 
unlocking value through retail analytics and linkage to other Big Data. 
We apply advanced social science analytics to better understand the 
motivations and behaviours of consumers, and develop applications that 
are relevant right across society. Award holders will be responsible for 
developing and applying analytics, and linking datasets in order to 
develop insights into today’s dynamic and fast-moving consumer markets. 
They will join a team of researchers and retail analysts that is seeking 
to reshape the ways in which consumer data can be used for the benefit 
of society at large. You will also gain first- hand experience of 
working with one or more of the UK’s leading retailers.

Funding

University of Liverpool: 2 x 3 year ESRC North West Doctoral Training 
Centre (DTC) Research Studentships

Both studentships include an annual tax-free maintenance stipend for 
full-time students of £14,210*. In addition, the studentship will pay 
for all tuition fees.

University College London: 1 x 3 year ESRC project linked DTC Research 
Studentship; 1 x 3 year UCL funded Research Studentship; 1 x four year 
(1+3) ESRC/EPSRC multidisciplinary studentship

All studentships include an annual tax-free maintenance stipend for 
full-time students of £14,180* and an additional £2,000 London 
Allowance. In addition, the studentship will pay for all tuition fees.

In both the UCL and North West ESRC DTCs, Research Students will have 
access to central funds to cover research related expenses, fieldwork, 
collaborations and overseas institutional visits. Successful candidates 
may be eligible, dependent upon circumstances, for stipend enhancements 
in relation to multidisciplinary research and/or use of advanced 
quantitative methods.

* This is an indicative amount. The exact amount is confirmed by RCUK 
annually.​

Entry Requirements

Successful applicants will have a 1st class or high upper 2nd class BSc 
degree or an MSc with Merit or Distinction in a quantitative social 
science discipline. They must share our passion for data and be equally 
fascinated by what we can learn from them. In addition, we welcome 
candidates that also bring some practical experience gained in a 
commercial setting. There are strict ESRC eligibility criteria, so 
please see 
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/postgraduates/prospective-students/eligibility/index.aspx 
before applying.

The CDRC Website is http://cdrc.ac.uk/. To apply, please submit a CV and 
supporting letter of application, demonstrating how you feel your skills 
and experience are relevant to the CDRC, to Sarah Sheppard 
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Please also state 
whether you would wish to be considered for the 4 year ESRC/EPSRC 
multidisciplinary studentship and whether you would like to be based at 
the University of Liverpool or UCL. Candidates must also include a clear 
statement that they have read and understood the ESRC eligibility 
criteria and confirm how they fulfill them.



-- 
Professor Alex Singleton
Chair of Geographic Information Science
Department of Geography and Planning
University of Liverpool
Email: [log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Tel: 0151 7943108
Website: http://www.alex-singleton.com
Twitter: alexsingleton

-- 
Dr Robin Lovelace
School of Geography
University of Leeds
LS2 9JT
UK
+44 113 343 0779