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University of Glasgow

Information on the School/Research Group

The School of Social and Political Sciences offers a dynamic research environment with a strong international profile and over 100 academic and research staff. The School combines five subject groups including Sociology, in which the PhD project will be based with a first supervisor, and Politics where the second supervisor is located.  In the REF 2014 assessment of research in the UK, over 80% of the School’s research performance was assessed in the top two categories of 4* ‘world-leading’ or 3* ‘internationally excellent’.

Project details

The aim of this PhD research is to examine how lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) activism in Latin America develops through transnational processes, in relation to decolonizing analyses. The project will engage decolonial thinking to investigate the relationship between South-North collaborations and decolonizing in terms of power relations, identities and dialogue. Focusing on two different country case studies, the study will also involve data-collection from actors in the Global North that are involved in related transnational processes. In a context where LGBTQ rights are mobilised positively or negatively in wider nationalist and internationalist projects, especially challenged in new right-wing populist national formations, it is vital to generate new analysis specifically of transnational processes. While research increases on Global North actors, there is a need for more detailed empirical research on activist agency originating in the South that engages with transnational processes, and to make the original step of exploring this in light of decolonial analyses.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria

• A good first degree (at least 2:1), preferably with a social science component
• Demonstrate an interest in, and knowledge of sexuality and/or gender and/or decolonizing/postcolonial approaches and/or Latin America.
• Have a good grounding in social research methods/methodology and sociology, politics or a similar discipline.

Award details

The scholarship is available as a three year ‘+3’ (PhD only). The programme will commence in October 2020.  It includes

• A stipend indexed to the RCUK rate (2020-21 rate £15,285 Full-Time).
• 100% Tuition Fee Waiver at the standard Home/EU or International rate.
• Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of up to £2,250 over 3 years (usually up to a maximum of £750 per year).

Further information

Applicants can propose to study any two countries in Latin America, and this includes the countries of the Caribbean. Applicants should specify in their cover letter’s statement which two countries they would choose to focus on.  Preference may be given to applications including at least one country in the Commonwealth, in light of this being a research focus of the first supervisor Dr Matthew Waites.

Application process

All applicants should complete and collate the following documentation, and then attach to a single email and send to socsci-scholarships@glasgow.ac.uk with the subject line ‘CoSS PhD Scholarship – Latin America’s Queer Movements Between Transnationalism and Decoloniality‘

• College of Social Sciences funding application cover sheet
• Academic transcript(s): Final and current degree transcripts including grades and degree certificates (and an official translation, if needed) – scanned copy in colour of the original document/s
• Degree Certificate(s) and an official translation, if needed – scanned copy in colour of the original document/s 
• References: 2 references on headed paper (academic and/or professional) – one must be academic, the other can be academic or professional. If required, these can be sent from your referees directly to socsci-scholarships@glasgow.ac.uk, with your full name and the CoSS scholarship title to which you are applying as the subject
• Curiculum Vitae (CV)
• Cover letter detailing the following:
  1. Your research interests.
  2. A detailed course description of your Master’s research training
  3. Details of any other relevant training and skills you have.
  4. Your long-term career goals.
  5. A short statement (max 1,000 words) explaining how the above fit with, and can add to, the research project.

The cover letter should be a single document with the file named as follows *Yourname_Waites_CoSSPhDScholarship_Date*

Applicants lodge their application via email: socsci-scholarships@glasgow.ac.uk

Closing Date: 29 May 2020

Selection process

Applications will be assessed by a selection panel and applicants shortlisted applicants will be asked to attend a remote interview. Interviews will take place on/by 1 July 2020.

All scholarship awards are subject to candidates successfully securing admission to a PhD programme within the School of Social and Political Sciences. Successful scholarship applicants will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme after they are selected for funding.

Key contact

Dr Matthew Waites (Matthew.Waites@glasgow.ac.uk)