Reference Code: GPS11

Closing Date: 5th February 2014

Details:
Name of the Supervisors
Professor Andy Pike, Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS)

Dr Oliver Heidrich, School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences (CEGS)

Dr Jane Gibbon, Newcastle University Business School (NUBS)

Sponsor
iBUILD (EPSRC and ESRC)

Duration of the Award
Three years

Project Description
Financing public infrastructure renewal and development presents acute problems for governments internationally in the context of changing demands for infrastructure services, shifting models of valuation, climate change, energy resource shortages, innovative technologies and growing interdependencies between infrastructural systems. Such concerns have been accentuated following the global financial crisis, economic downturn and recession, state austerity and fiscal consolidation and the expected role of infrastructure as a generator of economic recovery as well as financial savings. The research aims to better understand and explain the models, valuation, roles and processes of private sector investment in public infrastructure in an international comparative context.

Value of the Award and Eligibility
A full award covers tuition fees at the UK/EU RCUK rate and an annual stipend of £13,726 for up to three and a half years. Applicants must meet the EPSRC’s eligibility criteria.

Person Specification
To apply you must have:

• achieved or be undertaking an MA/MSc programme in a relevant area
• knowledge and experience of public and private sector finance, investment institutions, economic development and regeneration policy and institutions, and public infrastructure funding
• commitment and knowledge of working on a multi-disciplinary research project and quantitative and qualitative methodologies and analyses
• commitment and willingness to undertake a PhD studentship research project and work collaboratively within the iBUILD research centre.

How to Apply
You must apply through the University’s online postgraduate application form selecting ‘PhD School of Geography, Politics and Sociology – Geography’ as the programme of study. Please insert the code GPS11 in the studentship/partnership reference field. Please also include reference CURDS-iBUILD2014 in the research proposal field.

A CV and cover letter, quoting the studentship code GPS11 and reference number CURDS-iBUILD2014 should also be sent to: Professor Andy Pike, Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS), e-mail: andy.pike@ncl.ac.uk.

Further Information
For further details, please contact:
Professor Andy Pike
Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS)
E-mail: andy.pike@ncl.ac.uk