PhD studentship in International Water Governance and Transboundary Aquifers

University of Strathclyde - Centre for Environmental Law & Governance

Location:	Glasgow
Salary:	£13,863 per annum
Hours:	Full Time
Contract:	Contract / Temporary

 

Placed on:	27th May 2014
Closes:	15th July 2014

Law School

Funded period: 3 years (from 01/10/2014 to 30/09/2017). Starting date can be negotiated.

Applications are sought for a PhD studentship to investigate legal and policy aspects of the governance of transboundary aquifers (TBAs).

Currently, 97% of global available freshwater resources are stored underground in geological formations (aquifers), which often cross national boundaries (TBAs). The latest international figures show more than 400 TBAs worldwide but, despite the increasing importance of groundwater, and the adoption of the non-legally binding United Nations International Law Commission (UNILC) Draft Articles on the Law of Transboundary Aquifers 2008 (Draft Articles), there are currently only a handful of international legal instruments devoted to the management of specific TBAs in the world.

The project will explore challenges and opportunities arising from the potential applicability of existing international legal instruments (some groundwater-specific, some not) to specific TBAs.

Three case studies have initially been identified for the project: the Guarani Aquifer System in Latin America, the Dinaric Karst Transboundary Aquifer System in Europe and the Shire Valley Aquifer in Southern Africa. However, applicants are encouraged to identify, in their research proposal, possible alternative case studies giving full reasons for these choices.

The PhD student will be integrated within the Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance, which hosts an increasing number of PhD researchers. The project will also contribute to UNESCO-IHP ISARM, the leading international initiative in the field of transboundary aquifer management.

The studentship will cover fees up to the home/EU rate only and provides a stipend of approximately £13863 per year.

To apply:

• E-mail the following documents, by the closing date to hass-postgrad@strath.ac.uk
• Cover letter
• Research proposal including methodology (1500 words max)
• Academic qualifications
• Writing sample (eg previous research paper; masters dissertation)
• An English language qualification (if required)
• You must also arrange for two academic references to be e-mailed, to the same address, by the closing date
• All applicants must also apply online (http://pgr.strath.ac.uk/) for a place on the PhD programme at Strathclyde

Applicants already holding doctoral qualifications should not apply.

CLOSING DATE: 15 July (midnight).

For further information please contact Dr Francesco Sindico at Francesco.sindico@strath.ac.uk.

Academic lead contact details: Francesco Sindico, Reader in International Environmental Law, University of Strathclyde Law School, Glasgow, Scotland, UK and Director, Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance.

Email/telephone Francesco.sindico@strath.ac.uk / 0044 (0)141 5484295.

Graduate School contact details:

HaSS Graduate School

Lord Hope Building

University of Strathclyde,

141 St. James Road

G1 0LT

Email/telephone: hass-postgrad@strath.ac.uk; (+44) (0)141-444-8400