The Leverhulme Amplification Project PhD Scholarships

Project Details

The scholarship is open only to UK home applicants who are engaged in research on any subject related to amplification and its contribution to music cultures. Preference will be given to proposals in one of the following research areas:

-    Amplification, ecology and environment. 
-    Histories of amplification before 1950. 
-    Amplification and disability.
-    Amplification and sonic architecture.

However, other proposed topics will also receive consideration. Projects may be analytical, theoretical, socio-cultural, empirical, historical, or ethnomusicological.

The Amplification Project is a five-year funded grant project that explores the social, political, technical, and aesthetic dimensions of amplification technologies and amplified sound from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Leverhulme International Professor of Popular Music Steve Waksman is the principal investigator on the project, and the larger research team consists of six additional research fellows: Owen Coggins, Lawrence Davies, Gabrielle Kielich, Rebekah E. Moore, Frances Morgan, and Ivan Mouraviev. Successful PhD applicants will be supervised by a committee comprised of members of the core research team along with permanent members of the music staff at the University of Huddersfield. More information about the Amplification Project can be found on Pure. 

Additional information: https://research.hud.ac.uk/music/  

Candidate info: 

The successful candidate can expect:

• Full payment of tuition fees.
• An annual stipend at RCUK rates for 3 years, with the possibility of a fourth writing year, currently £19,237 per year. Beginning July 2025. 
• Opportunities for contribution to the Amplification Project, collaborative projects, publication, and the possibility of gaining teaching experience.
• Access to the Teaching Assistant Preparation Programme (TAPP), which can lead to the qualification of Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).
• Access to additional financial support through the Postgraduate Support Fund of the School of Arts and Humanities. 

The successful candidate will be required to be resident in or near Huddersfield during the PhD.

With over 100 students representing numerous fields of study and more than 20 nationalities, our postgraduate community is a vital, diverse and vibrant part of the department. The University features a wide range of music, music technology, and production facilities. All studios are equipped with top-of-the-line hardware, software and plug-ins, and we offer an impressive collection of industry-leading microphones and recording equipment. The University of Huddersfield is ranked 20th in the world for Music in the 2024 QS World University Subject Rankings, and in the Times World University Subject Rankings, Arts and Humanities at the University of Huddersfield is ranked in the top 300. Huddersfield was ranked 5th for Music in the recent 2021 UK Research Excellence Framework results ranking, and was one of only four departments to achieve a 4* ranking for its research environment.

Applying for this Scholarship

Applications should be submitted by email to: gs.pgradmissions@hud.ac.uk and contain the words ‘Leverhulme Trust Amplification Project PhD Scholarship’ in the email title. 

Applications must include the following documents:

• Expression of Interest form, clearly indicating that you are applying for the Leverhulme Trust Amplification Project PhD Scholarship.
• Proposal outlining your project not to exceed 2500 words
• Personal statement not to exceed 750 words
• CV
• Samples of written work or examples of other materials relevant to the scope of the scholarship not to exceed 20 pages
• Two references (or details for whom references can be sought)
• Qualification certificates and transcripts
• Copy of passport. OR A photographic driving licence AND full birth certificate

Deadline:
The deadline for applications is midnight on Monday 12th May.

Enquiries: 
For enquiries relating to the submission of the application, please contact Julie Walker on gs.pgradmissions@hud.ac.uk 

For enquiries relating to the project:
Prof Steve Waksman (Leverhulme International Professor of Popular Music); S.M.Waksman@hud.ac.uk
Prof Rupert Till (Professor of Music); r.till@hud.ac.uk