Leverhulme Trust PhD Studentship: The Slavery-War Nexus in Historical and Contemporary Contexts
Explore the intersection of slavery and war through historical and contemporary case studies in this fully funded PhD studentship.
Best for:Best for historians, social scientists, and interdisciplinary researchers with a passion for historical and contemporary slavery studies, war studies, and interdisciplinary research methods.
Overview
This fully funded PhD studentship at King’s College London’s Leverhulme Centre for Research on Slavery in War invites applicants to investigate the complex relationship between slavery and war. The project focuses on two key themes: historical war studies and slavery from 1791–1926, and contemporary slavery in occupation contexts since 2022. Successful candidates will conduct original research within these areas, contributing to the Centre’s broader mission of advancing interdisciplinary scholarship on slavery in war. The studentship offers interdisciplinary training and collaboration across historical, social science, legal, and data science methods, with opportunities to engage with archival, digital, and contemporary sources. Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative research questions that challenge existing historiographical interpretations and explore the global impact of slavery on warfare and its consequences.
What you'll do
- Conduct original, rigorous research on the intersection of slavery and war within the specified historical or contemporary timeframes.
- Develop and execute a research proposal aligned with the Leverhulme Centre’s research strands, focusing on historical or occupation contexts.
- Engage with primary sources, including archival, documentary, and contemporary materials such as NGO reports, legal documents, and survivor testimonies.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across historical, social science, legal, and data science methodologies.
- Present research findings at academic conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals or reports.
- Participate in the Leverhulme Centre’s cohort-based training and interdisciplinary workshops.
Requirements
Degree required: A relevant master's degree (or equivalent qualification) in History, War Studies, International Relations, Social Sciences, or a related discipline.
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; proficiency at a level suitable for doctoral study (typically equivalent to IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90).
Instruction: English
- Strong research and analytical skills with a focus on historical or contemporary slavery and war studies.
- Proficiency in conducting archival research and handling primary sources.
- Ability to work with interdisciplinary methodologies, including digital and quantitative approaches.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
- Experience with qualitative research methods, including discourse analysis, case study research, and comparative approaches.
- Applicants must be considered 'Home students' under UKRI guidelines.
- Only one application per candidate is permitted for this call.
- No specific nationality restrictions beyond UKRI's Home student criteria.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: Not specified (likely to be announced closer to the date)
Applicants must submit a research proposal outlining their project within the specified themes. The application should include a CV, academic transcripts, a research statement, and two references. Detailed instructions will be provided on the Leverhulme Centre’s website.
- CV
- Academic transcripts (BSc and MSc)
- Research proposal (aligned with the specified themes)
- Cover letter or personal statement
- Two reference letters
Contact
Leverhulme Centre for Research on Slavery in War Admissions· Admissions Contact
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