PhD Studentship: Human-Climate Connections in the Workplace

Primary supervisor - o.tregaskis@uea.ac.uk

The project

This studentship will examine the human-climate connection as part of a values-based approach to sustainability transition for businesses. It examines the connection between environmental values and behaviour (e.g. climate, netzero, biodiversity) and meaningfulness, wellbeing and connectivity at work. It will build upon the existing evidence base on employee green behaviours and sustainability leadership roles. However, the focus on the human-climate connection offers an opportunity to understand the role of individuals in driving innovations and change through business and management communities. 

Skills and data

This is one of three ESRC Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) affiliated studentships that will commence at UEA in September 2025. CAST is headquartered at the University of Bath and is an international centre of excellence founded in 2019. It has just commenced a second phase of work (2024-9), which will focus on especially ‘sticky’ hard to change behaviours such as flying and eating meat. CAST is expected to complete its ESRC funded work in 2034.

This PhD provides you with an opportunity utilise a wide array of methods to interrogate existing and original research data. Your research will be primarily desk-research involving literature reviews, analysis of secondary datasets, although some limited fieldwork may also be adopted. You will have access to existing data on employee sense-making of organisational sustainability practices. 

Training and professional development

Postgraduates at UEA have access to a diverse and varied professional development programme to support development of the skills that underpin high quality research, and to develop broader skills to prepare them for their future career. Our training programme provides choice, flexibility, and support to empower postgraduates to design their own annual training plan alongside some mandatory training on core topics. Sessions are delivered by a range of highly qualified staff with expert knowledge; academics and professional services staff from across the UEA, Norwich Research Park and contributors from external organisations. They include e.g. research and specialist skills training, communication skills, personal effectiveness, wellbeing training, impact and engagement, data and analysis and career planning.

You will be able to formally affiliate with CAST and/or the internationally recognised Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, which is headquartered at UEA, and with the Wellbeing Research Group in Norwich Business School. Together these centres and networks will offer you valuable opportunities to undertake collaborative, team-based research, present your findings at conferences and learn about how to make impactful contributions to wider society including public policy.

Eligibility

You should:

• Have a first at Hons. level (Business/Management, Psychology, Sociology, Social environmental sciences, Political sciences) and a Masters degree in a relevant subject;
• Have a demonstrable interest and expertise in organisational behaviour and environmental sustainability;
• Experience in independent qualitative and/or quantitative empirical research (e.g. interviewing, comparative case study, survey research);
• Be eager to join and actively contribute to a team of interdisciplinary researchers;
• Be a UK citizen or have a passport that does that does not require a visa to study in the UK.

Funding Details

Additional Funding Information

This PhD studentship is funded for 3 years by an ESRC CAST grant for UK/Home students. This includes payment of tuition fees, and a stipend of £19,237 to cover living expenses. 

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