PhD Studentship in Naval/Technological History - University of Strathclyde

Recent breakthroughs in hypersonic technology stand to usher in a world of ultra-rapid global air travel and cheap access to space. They will also enable a new type of weapons system that will give the nations that wield it a global military reach that will be more deadly, more accurate, swifter, and definitely cheaper than that provided by the nuclear weapons of old. Several nations around the world are striving to be the first to field these new weapons. In order to influence future national defence policy, we need to understand better the interrelationships between the political, military and industrial terms of the equation, thus to understand how future interventions might either accelerate or retard the proliferation of such weapons. The engineering perspective suggests several systemic parallels within the history of the development and proliferation of various armaments, particularly those that were viewed at the time as endowing their parent nations with potentially disproportionate military influence (battleships, tanks and nuclear weapons are prime examples).

A three-year studentship is available to support study towards a phD in the application of quantitative strategic analysis and technological forecasting, the aim being to understand the relationship between the technology, and the national and global political strategies and stratagems that might arise in the context of the rapid emergence of new technologies with global military potential. Particular emphasis will be placed on the interplay between the technological innovations and the political stresses that underpinned the naval buildup in Europe prior to the first world war, and to the relationship between the governments, military establishments and the industries of the nations involved in the various naval arms-limitation treaties of the period immediately prior to the second world war.

Prospective candidates with a relevant first degree(to UK 2:1 standard or better) and a passion for the History of Technology are invited to apply for this studentship. The successful candidate will be hightly motivated and resourceful, and able to balance his/her technical and sociological interests and skills to maximal effect. Very importantly, she/he will be able to communicate his/her ideas fluently in English.

Further information:

Project supervisor : Prof Richard E Brown.

Host organisation : The Centre for Future Air-Space Transportation Technology, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. See http://www.strath.ac.uk/fastt for more information.

Duration of Scholarship : Three years.

Start date : before November 2015, with applications closing once a suitable candidate is identified.

Eligibility : Unfortunately, applications from candidates who are not citizens of a country within the European Union cannot be entertained.

Financial support offered : The scholarship will cover the full costs of tuition of the successful candidate together with a monthly stipend to cover living expenses. The amount of the stipend will be approximately £1150 per month for the first year of study, and will increase in subsequent years of study.

Application process : Please send your CV, together with a covering letter explaining your suitability for the studentship, an example of your written work, and the names and contact details of three academic referees, to Prof Richard E Brown, email richard.brown@strath.ac.uk. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed, either in person or by Skype should this prove more appropriate and cost-effective.