PhD Scholarship Opportunity
Project: Examining the Socio-Cultural Significance of Te Awa River Ride
Te Awa River Ride is a shared cycle/walkway travelling 70 kilometres along the banks of the Waikato River. The ride is being developed in stages, and when completed in 2015 it will travel through various local communities along New Zealand’s largest and longest river. Te Awa River Ride is supported by various regional and national trusts, business and organizations, and is expected to attract users from across New Zealand and around the world.
This PhD opportunity will see the successful candidate exploring the socio-cultural significance of Te Awa River Ride for the Waikato region and the various local communities through which the cycleway travels. The project will critically examine the socio-cultural, psychological and/or economic significance of this development for local, regional and national sense of community, identity and connection to place and space. This project is part of a broader research initiative between the University of Waikato, the Department of Sport and Leisure Studies, and the Avantidrome Home of Cycling, with the aim of understanding and enhancing both high performance and recreational sport in the region.
The successful applicant will work with an interdisciplinary supervisory team who will support their research from conception to completion. As well as working closely with various stakeholders, the successful candidate will also be required to contribute to the University through promotion of their research and teaching assistance, where appropriate.
The scholarship provides a stipend of $22,000 plus domestic tuition fees per year for three years.
Are you eligible?
To be eligible for this opportunity you must possess a relevant first class Honours or Masters qualification (or equivalent) in a field related to the project. International students are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate must have excellent verbal and written English skills. It would be advantageous to have experience with interdisciplinary research and the qualitative methods of interviewing and participant-observation. The successful candidate should have good organizational and communication skills and be able to work independently. They should enjoy new challenges and take exceptional pride in their own work.
How to Apply
Please send your CV, a one-page expression of interest, and a brief outline of how you propose to approach the topic, to email@example.com
Applications close: February 20, 2015
Proposed start date: April 1, 2015 (with some room for negotiation with successful participant)
Please send all enquires to Dr Holly Thorpe: firstname.lastname@example.org