The LSE ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership is pleased to offer the following Collaborative Studentship, commencing in September 2025:
Project Title: The territorial impacts of Big Science
Collaborative Partner: The European Organization for Nuclear Research (“CERN”)
LSE Department: Department of Geography and Environment
Lead Supervisor: Professor Riccardo Crescenzi, r.crescenzi@lse.ac.uk
Project Description:
This collaborative project seeks to explore the socio-economic impacts of investment in Large Research Infrastructures (Rls), such as for example the Large Hadron Collider at CERN or the International Space Station. It aims to determine whether RIs provide economic benefits beyond advancing frontier science to the countries and communities that fund them. Understanding this is crucial for justifying public funding for frontier scientific research, which may offer limited visible short-term economic benefits. Given the current macroeconomic situation, with rising inflation and growing defence expenses straining public budgets for 'Big Science', this project will tackle these essential questions by using a combination of databases and advanced counterfactual analysis methods. It will also include a mixed-methods component, analysing selected case studies through in-depth interviews.
The project intends to develop practical policy recommendations for national and local governments—key funders of Rls—and for RIS themselves, to enhance and spread socio-economic benefits beyond scientific discoveries.
This project builds upon a well-established LSE research expertise around innovation, innovation policy and the economic analysis of the impacts of Large Research Infrastructure. The LSE has established a world-leading reputation in this area with significant scholarly and policy impacts in the UK and beyond. CERN is an unparalleled research partner for the LSE due to its extensive experience in managing large-scale, complex projects and its leading-edge infrastructure in scientific research. As a world-renowned hub for physics and engineering, CERN offers unique access to cutting-edge technology, rich datasets, and a highly skilled international community of experts. These strengths enable CERN to significantly contribute to innovative research, ensuring high-quality outcomes and impactful, real-world applications.
Length of studentship:
The studentship will commence in September 2025, with a minimum duration of 4 years. The award length offered may differ depending on the successful candidate’s experience and training requirements.
LSE ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership Collaborative Studentships cover full fees and an annual stipend. The stipend per year for 2024/25 entry was £21,237.
Candidate Requirements:
Candidates must have already completed a MSc in a related subject (e.g. Economics, Local Economic Development, Public Policy or related fields) and have experience of: a) the scholarly and policy literature on innovation; b) advanced quantitative methods; gained through study or working experience.
How to apply:
To apply for this Collaborative Studentship, you should make your application via the MPhil/PhD in Economic Geography. You should clearly cite the Collaborative Studentship project title and outline your suitability for the Studentship within your application. Please note this will only constitute an application for admission for the Collaborative Studentship.
If you would also like to be considered for admission to this programme, please include a separate research proposal which meets the criteria for this programme, as set out on the programme page.
Deadline for applications:
The deadline for consideration for this Collaborative Studentship is 22 May 2025, but prospective students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be considered on a rolling basis and the studentship may be awarded before this deadline.
Applicants who are also applying to be considered for admission to the MPhil/PhD in Economic Geography must apply by 15 January 2025 to be considered for a general ESRC-funded studentship.
Enquiries regarding the application process should directed to Pam Rolfe, Deputy Head of Scholarships and Financial Support (p.rolfe@lse.ac.uk)