Natural Resources & Social-Ecological Systems

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New: Ph.D. positions in the Natural Resources & Social-Ecological Systems Interdisciplinary Research Training Group

University of Bucharest announces 12 doctoral positions for the September competition at the Natural Resources & Social-Ecological Systems Interdisciplinary Research Training Group (IRTG), at the Interdisciplinary School of Doctoral Studies.

Candidates are expected to choose one of the following fields of study:  Geology, Geography, History, Political Science.

After the successful defense of their thesis, students will obtain the doctoral title in the particular field they have been registered in, as well as a Certificate highlighting their interdisciplinary achievements, inside the IRTG. During their doctoral studies, students will be guided by their supervisor and by a committee including specialists from different fields of study, they will have the opportunity to interact with their colleagues and with the professors who are part of the IRTG and will gain access to research resources.

Romanian and EU citizen may apply for state-funded doctoral positions and scholarships. For non-EU candidates, the study fee is 3,700 Euro/year. Starting with the 2nd semester of the first year, the University of Bucharest will provide merit-based support schemes (partial fee exemptions, scholarships, paid positions in research projects etc.) for the fee-paying doctoral students.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate a strong background in their main field of study and an open view related to scientific problems from other fields.

Prospective candidates are advised to choose their field of study and contact in advance one of the members of the IRTG from the list below as potential supervisor and promoter of their research theme:

Applications deadline: September, 2024

Enrollment: October 1st, 2024

Natural Resources & Social-Ecological Systems

short description of the IRTG

Natural resources represent a fundamental factor in human society, influencing profoundly its evolution, history, economy, and spatial distribution. Since the dawn of humankind, natural resources have shaped the foundations of our society, drove the agricultural and industrial revolutions, and deeply controlled the development of all societies. Therefore, following the natural resources from prospection, exploration, exploitation, and use implies following the mainlines for each societal history, economy, military might, politics, technological evolution, not only in the past and present but for their future as well. Hence, the approach to them as a key variable in human history and social systems is by definition interdisciplinary.

The project proposes advanced interdisciplinary studies covering a wide range starting from Earth Sciences (Geology and Geography) and Life Sciences (Environmental and Evolution sciences), to History, Economics and Political and Administrative sciences, as key fields for understanding complex processes shaping the human society in the past, present and future. Societal trends and threats as complex processes in economy, politics, military sciences, and sociology can be understood profoundly only through complex, interdisciplinary studies in these fields.

In brief, the Natural Resources & Social-Ecological Systems Interdisciplinary Research Training Group will contribute both to the development of a cutting edge research agenda at the University of Bucharest, as well as to the internationalization of the University of Bucharest. With this end in view, the group will take advantage of the unique framework and opportunity created by ISDS- which is creating both the infrastructure and the possibility of further collaboration with the other interdisciplinary research training groups of the School.

Given the motivation for the creation of this IRTG, we consider that future Ph.D. students studying with the group and the entire academic community of UB could benefit from a program of advanced studies which will be calibrated to align to the cutting edge developments in contemporary natural and social sciences, as applied to governance problems.

Eligibility conditions and other information are available here.

Back to Interdisciplinary Research Training Groups page.