News & Events

PhD in Creative Technologies - Call for Applications

Feb 12 2024 Posted: 18:42 GMT

University of Galway

COLLEGE OF ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES, AND CELTIC STUDIES
DOCTORAL RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP

PhD in Creative Technologies

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a PhD fellowship in Creative Technologies in the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies at the University of Galway, available from 1 September 2024 for four years, subject to satisfactory progress.

Abstract image generated by DALL-E 2

Context

The Centre for Creative Technologies supports research and teaching activities that explore, analyse, and develop new links between creative practice and technology, including in such areas as Extended Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Creativity and Virtual Production. These activities draw on existing strengths across the College of Arts in the creative arts, especially in such areas as Digital Media, Film, Music, Theatre Studies, and Writing as well as its strong relationships with the creative community in the western region and beyond

PhD researchers within the Centre for Creative Technologies work to investigate emerging trends in the overlap between creativity and technology, both in professional practice and academic research. Successful applicants will pursue research towards a PhD in Creative Technologies whilst participating in workshops and doctoral training designed to enhance the participant’s research capacity in the field. Proposals are particularly welcome for projects that combine critical enquiry or social science methods with technological and artistic practice to pursue original research questions in this field.

Proposal are welcome in any relevant areas of PhD research, especially (but not exclusively) in the areas outlined below:

Equality, diversity and inclusion in the design and use of creative technologies
Virtual/augmented reality and live performance
Creative arts, technology, and health/well-being
Creative arts, technology, and social inclusion
Extended reality and placemaking
Using creative arts and technology in primary and/or post-primary education.
Technology and the production/performance/reception of music, including spatial audio
Sustainability and technology in the creative industries, including virtual production processes
Hacking, digital making and the circular economy
Augmented creativity and writing
The philosophy of technology and creativity
Affect and immersive art
The ethics of AI art

For initial enquiries, please contact conn.holohan@universityofgalway.ie.

Research Environment

The College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies consists of eight Schools that are at the cutting edge of theory and practice in the wide range of subjects offered within our taught and research programmes. Successful applicants will have direct access to numerous peers engaged in wide-ranging research, funded by the IRC, ERC, Marie Curie, SFI and other schemes. The College acts as a partner and a champion for much of the creative arts within the city and enjoys formal partnerships with organisations such as Druid Theatre, Galway International Arts Festival, and the Abbey Theatre, among others. It is equally well known for its work in Coastal and Marine Environments and researchers in this area are currently leading a suite of EU-funded projects around sustainability.

Application Details

To apply for the post, please send the following information:

Academic Awards or Scholarships received (max 300 words)
Details of your previous research experience (max 500 words)
Personal Research Statement: Please write a brief statement (max 1000 words), outlining your interest in and suitability for a scholarship and the selected research area(s). Describe your research question, aims and objective, theoretical/conceptual framework, methodology, research plan and relationship of the project to existing research. Please also indicate your motivation for pursuing a PhD on this research topic and why you are particularly suited to this research programme.
Please provide any other relevant information (max 500 words)
Name and contact details for TWO people who have agreed to write references for you.

Please also include a CV (max two pages) which provides information about your educational qualifications, prior research and/or practice-based experience, and any other relevant information.

Essential Selection Criteria

A primary degree and/or MA/MSc in any of the following areas: Creative Arts / Arts Practice; Digital Humanities; Computer Science; Engineering; Education; Literary Studies; Modern Languages (with an emphasis on comparative cultural studies and/or translation); Philosophy; Social Sciences; or a related area.
Evidence of an ability to carry out independent research
A demonstrable interest in the overlaps between creativity and technology
A clear and compelling statement of the new research angle to be developed as part of this project

Desirable Selection Criteria

A postgraduate qualification in a relevant area
Professional experience in creativity and/or technology
Experience of working as part of a research team

Closing date for applications: 29^th March 2024, 5pm (GMT).

After shortlisting, interviews will take place in April 2024. Candidates will be notified of the outcome in May 2024 with studies to commence in September 2024.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS 2024

The College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies (CASSCS) at University of Galway is pleased to offer this scholarship to support full-time PhD research within the PhD programmes of the CASSCS.

The scholarships will be awarded in line with the objectives and criteria as laid out above.

Applicants are advised to carefully read these Terms and Conditions in advance of submitting an application to ensure their eligibility under the Scheme. Applications that do not comply with the Terms and Conditions will be deemed ineligible.

1. Duration

The scholarship will be awarded for a maximum period of four years.

2. Value

The maximum value of an individual Scholarship award is €27,026 per annum, from which a student levy and fees of €5,026 will be paid. The balance of €22,000 will be paid in a monthly stipend of €1833.33. Students will be liable to pay the student levy of €140 themselves. A successful candidate from a non-EU country will be entitled to apply for an International Merit Scholarship to cover the non-EU portion of their fee.

3. Classification of Scholarship Payments

Scholarships are officially classified as a ‘scholarship’ and hence do not attract Tax or Social Insurance. The recipient is not an employee of the University.

4. Eligibility

The minimum qualification for the award of a scholarship is a primary degree from a recognised institution in a relevant discipline.

Applicants must have an established proficiency in English or in Irish. For applicants whose first language is not English or Irish, a language proficiency assessment may be required.

5. Conditions of Tenure

a. Successful applicants to this scheme will be designated as a Doctoral Research Scholar and will register in the structured PhD programme of the CASSCS, University of Galway before the Scholarship can be drawn down.

b. Registration will take place in September 2024. If registration is not completed on the due date, then the scholarship offer may be withdrawn.

c. Scholarships will be awarded for four years, according to the original date of the applicant’s registration for the PhD degree, and based on satisfactory progress being confirmed each year by the student’s GRC.

d. The scholarship will automatically cease on the submission of the Scholar’s PhD thesis, if this occurs within the four-year period.

e. The scholarship is valid for the year in which it is awarded or renewed. Under general circumstances the scholarship may not be deferred or otherwise interrupted, without reasonable cause. Where particular situations arise that necessitate temporary leave of absence, they shall be verified and notified to the GRC, and approved by the Dean of the CASSCS.

f. Should a Scholar be unable for any reason (including medical reasons) to pursue studies in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the scholarship, the Scholar and/or his/her supervisor is required to inform the Dean of the CASSCS within two weeks of such a situation coming to the Scholar’s attention. The Dean of the CASSCS, on appropriate advice, reserves the right to withdraw or suspend the Scholarship.

g. A Scholar may wish to terminate the scholarship for personal, professional or other reasons. This should not be done without prior consultation with the GRC and Dean of the CASSCS, as it may involve reimbursement by the Scholar to the CASSCS if the Scholar is unable to justify the funding received up to the date of termination.

i. At the earliest possible opportunity during the tenure of a scholarship, the Scholar will be required to prepare one, or if necessary two, application(s), under the guidance and advice of the supervisor, for external research funding under the Irish Research Council (IRC) Post-Graduate Scholarship Scheme, if eligible to do so.

j. The holder may not be the holder simultaneously of any other scholarship or fellowship.

k. The Doctoral Research Scholarships will be awarded only to full-time registered students who will engage full-time in research during the period of the scholarship. The recipients of the scholarships are expected to be normally present in the university for the duration of the programme. Should Scholars wish to take a prolonged absence from the university, s/he must apply for permission using Form GS 090, which is available on the Graduate Studies website.

l. The Doctoral Research Scholarship is held subject to these Terms and Conditions. If any of the above is breached by a scholarship holder, the CASSCS will suspend or terminate the Scholarship and/or will require the Scholar to reimburse the College for such payments that have already been made.

n. The award of a Doctoral Research Scholarship is made subject to receipt of funding from various sources. In the event of such funding being reduced or being discontinued the CASSCS, the National University of Ireland Galway or their agents will not be under any liability to provide funding or to compensate a Scholar for any reduction or cessation of such funding.

o. In cases where ethical issues may arise from the research, applicants will be asked to provide a written statement to the effect that full consideration has been given to the ethical implications of the research proposal. In such cases, the successful application will require the approval of the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Galway prior to confirmation of the Scholarship Award.

p. In accepting a Doctoral Research Scholarship, successful applicants must also agree to accept the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. Correspondence on this will not be entered into once an award has been accepted.

q. In the event that a scholarship recipient fails to comply fully with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme, the CASSCS reserves the right to revoke the Scholarship award.

6. Application Process

Applicants are required to submit a Cover Letter, application and CV (including two named referees) to centrecreativetechnologies@universityofgalway.ie by 5pm, (GMT) Friday, 29^th March 2024.

7. Selection Process

The award will be made by the CASSCS on the recommendation of the Research Programme’s Assessment Panel.

The selection process is strictly confidential, and representations may not be made on behalf of applicants.

Note: Late or incomplete applications or applications that do not fully adhere to the Terms and Conditions of this scheme will be deemed ineligible.

The College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies at University of Galway reserves the right to alter the Conditions of Tenure of the Scholarship at any time.