Global Methane Politics PhD Scholarships

Two fully-funded PhD scholarships are available in the School of Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds, focusing on international climate politics and methane emissions. These positions are part of the Global Methane Politics project (METH-POL), a five-year European Research Council-funded project led by Professor Jan Selby. One scholarship focuses on the politics of coal methane, while the other focuses on the politics of wastewater methane. Both positions offer 3.5 years of funding covering tuition fees plus maintenance stipends matching UKRI rates. The successful candidates will join an international and interdisciplinary team working on the politics of methane emissions and reduction efforts. The project explores why methane emissions are proving difficult to control despite their importance as a short-term climate forcer and the availability of low-cost technical mitigation solutions. Research spans five major methane-emitting sectors across more than a dozen countries globally, adopting a political ecology theoretical approach using qualitative methods. Both PhD projects involve extensive international fieldwork fully covered by project funds. The coal methane position involves research in Germany and Indonesia, while the wastewater methane position involves research in Uganda and Indonesia, though case study locations are flexible. Successful candidates will participate in conferences, co-author publications, and engage with policymaker and practitioner communities. They will be embedded in a dynamic team and have opportunities to shape the strategic direction of the project.