Two Wellcome Trust PhD studentships in Bioethics, Science, and Security‏

Two Wellcome Trust PhD studentships in Bioethics, Science, and Security In the context of the Wellcome Trust funded project ?Building a Sustainable Capacity in Dual-Use Bioethics? two PhD studentships are available from October 2009 for three years that cover the cost of UK/EU PhD tuition fees and an annual average maintenance grant of £19,600. Funds are also included for conference travel. The studentships are part of a major Wellcome Trust 5 year Enhancement Award to four universities in the UK and Australia. The holder of one of the studentships will work under the supervision of Dr. Brian Rappert in the Department of Sociology and Philosophy at the University of Exeter. The holder of the second studentship ? with a focus on the dual-use aspects of synthetic biology ? will work under the supervision of Dr. Alexander Kelle in the Department of European Studies and Modern Languages at the University of Bath. Both PhD students are expected to participate actively in the wider interdisciplinary and international activities of the Enhancement Award. The overall goal of the Enhancement Award is to stimulate bioethical discussion about the potential destructive applications of modern life science research; specifically in relation to adverting its use for the development of biological weapons. The studentship is open to range of approaches that consider how bioethical discussions can be furthered in life science communities in order to prevent the hostile application of their work. You will be expected to have a strong first degree (normally at least a 2:1 honours degree (or its equivalent)) and preferably have a Masters degree at distinction level or equivalent. Candidates from a wider range of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply; this includes (but is not limited to) Sociology, Politics, International Relations, Security Studies, Philosophy, and Biology. For the first PhD studentship you should submit a formal application to the University of Exeter for the PhD in Sociology and Philosophy along with your research proposal and two academic references (see http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/admissions/applying.shtml). The research proposal will form part of the basis for judging applications. Applicants are also required to contact Brian Rappert (B.Rappert@ex.ac.uk; also Tel +44 (0)1392 263353) with a short initial expression of their interest (no more than 500 words) by the deadline. For the second, synthetic biology focussed, PhD studentship you should submit a formal application to the University of Bath for the MPhil/PhD Research in Modern Languages (full-time) along with your research proposal and two academic references (see https://secure.bath.ac.uk/prospectus/cgi-bin/applications.pl). The research proposal will form part of the basis for judging applications. Applicants are also required to contact Alexander Kelle (A.Kelle@bath.ac.uk) with a short initial expression of their interest (no more than 500 words) by the deadline. Deadline: 15 April 2009 For more information about the Wellcome Trust Enhancement Award see: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/Media-office/Press-releases/2008/WTX052740.htm