PhD Studentship, digitalisation, circular economy, civil society
Oliver Bates
📣 PhD Studentship
Digitalisation of the ‘circular economy’ – how do re-use and repair groups fit into emerging infrastructures and imaginaries?
Headlines:
- 3.5 year PhD, based at the CAM-DTP (University of Cambridge/Anglia Ruskin University), sitting in the Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University, supervised by Dr. Lara Houston and Prof. Chris Foulds.
- Application deadline: Sunday 16 November, 2025.
- Apply here: https://www.aru.ac.uk/study/apply-online?course=&route=r0042
- We deeply regret that fees are only fully funded for UK ‘home’ students (see guidance here).
💻 The context: Electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. A record 62 million tonnes was produced in 2022. If placed into 40-tonne trucks, this would circle the Earth’s equator! Policymakers have responded to this huge challenge by promoting the ‘circular economy’. This is a model of consumption where items are re-used in their original state for as long as possible, before being repaired or re-manufactured (and only then recycled).
📌 The problem: Increasingly, policymakers and companies are building new digital infrastructures to help accelerate the circular economy. Yet despite having pioneered novel and inclusive initiatives, community-engaged, civil society groups are at risk of being excluded from these new data platforms, as they are predominantly designed for business.
For example, ‘tech take-back’ schemes refurbish unwanted devices and give these to marginalised people, thus bridging the ‘digital divide’. Will they be able to leverage new forms of traceability data? Or will they be paywalled from commercial solutions? Will their unique needs be considered by policymakers or lost in the gap between ‘businesses’ and ‘consumers’?
🧩 The opportunity: You are free to develop your own proposal, within the very broad area of civil society, circularity and digitalisation. The supervisory team Dr. Lara Houston and Prof. Chris Foulds have extensive expertise in qualitative research within environmental social sciences, policy, STS, and HCI / design. We have links with a range of civil society groups in re-use and repair. Some suggestions are as follows:
- STS / Sociology of expectations: What promises are being made in the digitalisation of the circular economy? How are civil society organisations included or excluded in the futures promised by visions / policies?
- Policy studies: How can forthcoming policies (e.g. Digital Product Passports from 2027 in the EU) be better designed to support the unique needs of civil society groups, through participatory research approaches?
- Data justice: What forms of data injustice arise, when environmental data about products is enclosed on proprietary platforms?
- HCI / design: What role could design play in critiquing existing infrastructures and proposing alternatives (e.g. developed through co-design or speculative futuring)?
- Just transitions: What can long-term empirical studies with re-use and repair organisations tell us about the circular transition? Do we need to move from a ‘circular economy’ towards a ‘circular society’?
✔ Additional benefits:
- 3.5 year tax-free annual stipend at the UKRI rate of £19,237, plus fees paid for UK-based applicants. Those applying from elsewhere will need to secure additional funding to cover fees (further info. available).
- Can be taken up full-time (3.5 yr) or part-time over a longer period. Emphasis on widening participation: applicants can flag up relevant considerations (e.g. caring responsibilities, or health needs).
- Candidates are supported to undertake a 3-month Innovation Fellowship as part of the studentship.
- More information at: https://www.aru.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research/cam-doctoral-training-partnership-phd-studentships / https://www.cam-dtp.ac.uk/students/current-opportunities/
🗨 For further information: Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Lara at lara.h...@aru.ac.uk or Chris at chris....@aru.ac.uk for an informal chat. We have guides and FAQ documents that can help you put together an application.