Would you like to join the Durham Life of Breath project team? As part of our commitment to engaged research, we are planning to establish a group which will bring stakeholders with an interest in breath, breathing and breathlessness together to share information, knowledge and experience in a congenial setting. We are now recruiting for an anthropology PhD student who will study, record, analyse and reflect on the dynamics of this group as it evolves through time. For example;
- How is the group formed, and how does its formation contribute to community building amongst the different stakeholders involved? Who attends, who does not, and why?
- What are the relationships built around the condition of breathlessness and how are these articulated?
- How are the power dynamics, politics and inequalities that are part of breathlessness in wider society reflected in the work of the group, and how are these effectively managed?
- What is the potential and scope of a group such as this to transform understanding, experience and practice of the condition in question amongst participants?
Applicants must have an excellent degree, preferably a Masters, in Medical Anthropology (or a related subject). The successful candidate will show evidence of designing, implementing, analysing and reporting on studies of this type and demonstrate the potential to be an excellent researcher. They will also be able to communicate clearly and effectively and to engage confidently with the world beyond academia. Knowledge or experience relating to the study of breath and/or public engagement with research would be beneficial. Students for whom English is not a first language must have an IELTS score of at least 7.5.
This is a full-time three year studentship, commencing Autumn 2016, registered with the Department of Anthropology but based in the Centre for Medical Humanities at Durham University. It is fully funded with fees, fieldwork expenses and a stipend at the Wellcome Trust rate (approx. £22,000 pa) included.
To apply submit a response to the project brief (no more than 1000 words) describing and justifying how you would approach the research along with a covering letter, current CV and contact details for two referees. Applications should be emailed directly to Sarah Mclusky by 17:00 GMT on Monday 1 February 2016. Interviews will take place in Durham on Thursday 18/Friday 19 February 2016.
Download the full project description and person specification