Studentships

Contributing cross cultural meaning to sentiment analysis: a case study of qualitative data sets on youth and uncertainty from Ethiopia and Nepal content

Contributing cross cultural meaning to sentiment analysis: a case study of qualitative data sets on youth and uncertainty from Ethiopia and Nepal

Previous ESRC-FCDO funded research in Ethiopia and Nepal showed that concepts such as uncertainty, insecurity, resilience, and marginalisation are not easily translatable across cultural contexts (Johnson et al., 2022). Research was conducted with 500 youth living in fragile and conflict affected environments leading to the publication of datasets on youth and uncertainty. This studentship will use these datasets to develop a new interdisciplinary methodology for the culturally sensitive application of natural language processing, drawing on approaches from human geography, data science, and cultural studies.

The lexicons applied in natural language processing are informed by the cultural contexts of their development – predominantly English language, privileged, white, male, Global North cultures – that can carry forth unconscious biases in their applications. If natural language processing techniques can be consistently applied to datasets from diverse cultural contexts, they could substantially enhance research capacity in the Global South. This studentship will contribute new understanding on how sentiment analysis and other natural language processing techniques can be meaningfully applied to datasets constructed in fragile social contexts in the Global South.

This studentship provides a unique opportunity to work with national researchers in Ethiopia and Nepal to contribute new, culturally relevant principles and processes for the application of natural language processing. The student will be supported to develop an interdisciplinary methodology that engages with advanced data science methods and participatory and decolonising approaches, backed by a supervisory team with specific expertise in participatory and collaborative methods, natural language processing, and decolonising research. Training across disciplines will be integrated throughout the studentship to foster transformative applications of these approaches and ensure ethical and culturally sensitive collaborations with national researchers. Timely completion is supported by well-established and trusted partnerships in Ethiopia and Nepal, revisiting existing partnerships and risk assessments, and a readymade published ESRC dataset linked to youth profiles.

Supervisory Team:

First Supervisor: Professor Vicky Johnson, Vicky.Johnson.ic@uhi.ac.uk
Second Supervisor: Dr Andrew Duncan, Andrew.Duncan.ic@uhi.ac.uk

Apply on SGSSS Apply

Applications are due 10 April, 5 pm BST and References are due 16 April, 5 pm BST

Applications will be ranked by an internal institutional selection panel, and you will be notified if you have been shortlisted for interview on or around 23rd April. Interviews will take place around 29-30th April.

This studentship award is subject to the successful candidate securing admission to a PhD programme within the University of the Highlands and Islands. The successful candidate will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme.

Exploring benthic biogeochemical cycling in the abyssal Clarion-Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean content

Exploring benthic biogeochemical cycling in the abyssal Clarion-Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean

Project Description

Continued demand for rare earth minerals has generated extensive interest in mining mineral-rich deposits in the deep sea. Currently, mineral mining at hydrothermal vent systems along mid ocean ridges, bathyal seamounts, polymetallic nodule areas at abyssal depths, as well as phosphorites on margins are all being considered. The small size of deep-sea organisms, the slow population growth rates and long generation times could make benthic ecosystems especially vulnerable to impacts of deep-sea mining.

This PhD project will investigate the benthic biogeochemical cycling in areas being targeted for deep-sea mining, and assess rates of seafloor chemoautotrophy, oxygen consumption and production.

The student will participate in sample collection with deep-sea landers at deep-sea field sites in the Pacific Ocean and carry out isotope labelling studies to parameterize deep-sea biogeochemical cycling. The student will also undertake electrochemical studies using polymetallic nodules and microbial studies to better understand the role of electrochemistry and microbiology in deep-sea biogeochemical cycles. The PhD student will work within the Benthic Ecology and Biogeochemistry laboratory at the Scottish Association for Marine Science. The studentship will be a part of a major deep-sea project exploring dark oxygen production in deep-sea environments led by SAMS, Northwestern University, and Boston University. The student will be required to attend multiple 45-day research cruises to sample deep-sea field sites in the Pacific Ocean. The studentship will also have the possibility to make research exchange trips to collaborators in the USA, as well as attend national and international research conferences and project meetings.

Director of Studies: Prof. Andrew K. Sweetman (SAMS)

Supervisory Team: Prof. Bhavani Narayanaswamy (SAMS), Prof. Franz Geiger (Northwestern University, Chicago, USA), Prof. Jeffrey Marlow (Boston University, USA).

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 30^th April 2025, 17:00 BST.

Interview date: In person on Tuesday 20^th May 2025 (morning).

Project start date: 1^st October 2025.

Duration: 3.5 years full-time.

Funding Notes:

This 3.5 year PhD studentship is fully funded by the Nippon Foundation for students who qualify for Home (UK) fees status and follows UKRI funding guidance. The studentship covers Home (UK) tuition fees, a maintenance stipend and a research training grant.

To qualify for Home (UK) fees status, applicants must be either a UK National (meeting residency requirements) or meet the requirements of the EU Settlement Scheme and have either settled status, pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements) or indefinite leave to remain or enter. All other International applicants will be required to pay the difference between home fees and international fees themselves. International fees are currently under review. Continuing students’ annual tuition fees are subject to revision and typically increase between 1.5-3% per annum.

How to apply:

For full project information, eligibility criteria and an application form please visit the SAMS website: SAMS Find a PhD — The Scottish Association for Marine Science

Please note that we cannot consider CVs alone. Only applications submitted on the application form available from the SAMS website by the application deadline, including the correct supporting documents and with references submitted by your referees, will be considered for this project.