Leverhulme Centre for Humanity and Space (LCHS)

The Leverhulme Centre for Humanity and Space (LCHS) has been awarded up to £10m for 10 years to transform the academic landscape when it comes to our understanding of Space through the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.  The LCHS will support cohorts of interdisciplinary postdoctoral and doctoral researchers alongside Leicester’s existing staff and Centre collaborators to develop new intellectual insights, innovative new methodological approaches, and build new collaborations.  LCHS is based at Space Park Leicester, where the Centre’s researchers work alongside research scientists, start-up space companies, business and governmental bodies.

As part of this vibrant programme, we are seeking to recruit 5 fully funded PhD students to join our team of researchers working across the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Leicester.

PhD in nuclear strategy, security and space 
Supervised by Professor Andrew Futter, (ajf57@le.ac.uk) School of History, Politics and IR and Professor Wyn Bowen, Kings College London
Proposals are welcomed that focus on deterrence, escalation and strategy stability; the impact of emerging/disruptive technologies in space; historical, country or geographical case studies of space security.

PhD in human well-being and performance in Space 
Supervised by Professor Ana-Cristina Costa, (acfdc1@leicester.ac.uk) School of Management
Proposals are welcome that seek to understand human performance and wellbeing requirements in space explorations as precursors for human off-planet settlements. 

PhD in UFOs at the national archives 
Supervised by Dr Ben Parsons, ( bp62@leicester.ac.uk ) School of Arts, Media & Communication & Keith Mitchell, The National Archives
This project is designed to explore the collection of material on UFO’s held at the UK National Archives in London.

PhD in Contesting and co creating Earth–Space sustainability 
Supervised by Dr Scott Davidson, (sd310@leicester.ac.uk)  School of Arts, Media, Communication
Proposals are invited to address the challenge of democratising Earth–Space sustainability by examining how deliberative or other innovative forms of public empowerment can better connect civil society to Earth–Space governance and space industry environmental responsibility.

PhD in European space strategy
Supervised by Dr Raul Gonzalez, ( rgm12@leicester.ac.uk ) School of Business  
Proposals are welcome that seek to explore how the European space industry can develop sustainable competitive advantage while advancing strategic autonomy. 

Before applying please refer to the sections below and especially the How to Apply information. Please use the Research Proposal Form for your proposal. Use the application link relevant to the research area you want to apply for.