Lives and Places in Transition: (Decommissioning) infrastructure, work and community Ref: 5864

Supervisors

Dr Leila Dawney, Associate Professor of Human Geography, Department of Geography, University of Exeter.

Professor Karen Bickerstaff, Professor of Human Geography, Department of Geography, University of Exeter.

Johanna Telfer - Sellafield Ltd.

A fully funded Geography PhD exploring how people, families and places navigate the shift from nuclear operations to decommissioning.

The University of Exeter’s Department of Geography is inviting applications for a fully funded PhD studentship starting in 2026/2027. The award covers Home tuition fees and provides an annual tax-free stipend of at least £22,442 for four years full-time.

How do people, families, communities and places live and thrive through major infrastructural and socio-economic change? This PhD explores that question through the UK nuclear sector, focusing on the transition from operations to decommissioning at Sellafield in West Cumbria. It asks how working lives, identities, relationships and community futures are reshaped when a long-standing industrial site shifts from production to decommissioning and dismantling.

This project will be especially relevant to students interested in the social and spatial dimensions of work, identity, place, class, family, community, risk, industrial change, energy transitions, organisational culture or the social life of infrastructure. The project will move beyond a narrow organisational view to ask how change is experienced across workplace, home and community life.

This project is likely to include qualitative social science methods, though other methods may also be relevant. There will also be scope for the student to shape the project around their own interests within the broad themes of geographies of work, community and social change.

Any training will be supported through the University of Exeter’s Researcher Development Programme, with opportunities to develop experience in publishing, policy engagement and public dissemination.

You will benefit from a supportive supervisory team with expertise in energy transitions, social and environmental justice, nuclear communities, qualitative research and public engagement. You will join a lively research environment in the Geography Department for developing your own academic profile and connecting with wider debates on energy, society and place.

The studentship is funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and includes a generous research and training allowance to support fieldwork, skills development and research-related travel. It will be supervised by Dr Leila Dawney, Professor Karen Bickerstaff at the University of Exeter and Johanna Telfer at Sellafield Ltd.

We welcome applications from candidates with a background in Geography or cognate social sciences or humanities disciplines.

International applicants should note that the studentship covers Home fees only. This means international applicants would be responsible for additional costs, including international fee surcharges, student visa fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge and relocation costs associated with moving to the UK. Applicants should ensure they have sufficient funds to meet these costs before applying.

Interviews will take place online, week beginning 14th September 2026.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a Master’s degree at merit or above in an appropriate area of the social sciences, or cognate experience.

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide proof of proficiency. Click here for more information.

How to apply

Apply now

To apply, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button above. In the application process you will be asked to upload several documents 

•             CV

•             1 page letter of application outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project.

•             3 page research proposal including references.

•             Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying).

•             Please obtain two references from referees familiar with your academic work/professional experience to submit with your application. If your referees prefer, they can email the reference direct to PGRApplicants@exeter.ac.uk quoting the studentship reference number.

•             If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English.

The closing date for applications is midday on 7th September 2026. 

Interviews will be held virtually week beginning 14th September 2026.

All application documents must be submitted in English. Certified translated copies of academic qualifications must also be provided.

Please quote reference 5864 on your application and in any correspondence about this studentship. 

For general information about this studentship and the application process, please contact PGRApplicants@exeter.ac.uk. Project specific queries should be directed to the main supervisor.

Summary