Advertising and Justice-Based Sustainability Transformations of Production and Consumption

This fully funded PhD scholarship is offered in the Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability at the University of Leeds for one UK candidate starting in October 2026. The PhD involves impact-facing advertising research aligned with justice-based sustainability transformation of production and consumption systems. The successful candidate will be embedded in a dynamic interdisciplinary team within the Production and Consumption Transformations (PACT) research centre, funded by UK Research and Innovation and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The research focuses on investigating the role of advertising policy and practice in the UK for just and sustainable transformations. The project examines three key lenses: (1) emissions across production and consumption systems, (2) decision making institutions and coalitions, and (3) justice and public engagement. As part of the scholarship, there is an option to spend up to six months at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero through a secondment. This is a timely opportunity to engage with the under-researched mitigation potential around advertising, including campaigns and motions passed by local authorities to limit certain products and sectors from being advertised. The interdisciplinary research team offers opportunities and support to engage in mixed methods research on just transitions, with methodological support available for both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The core supervision team includes Dr. Diana Ivanova, Dr. Leslie Meier, and Dr. Robin Styles, based across the Sustainability Research Institute and the School of Media and Communication. The successful applicant will have a strong interest in climate justice and advertising in the UK context, with particular encouragement for candidates with strong existing networks with community organisations, businesses, and policy makers. The funding covers UK tuition fees and a UKRI matched maintenance stipend per year for 3.5 years, subject to satisfactory progress. Applicants must normally have at least a first class or upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline.