PhD Opportunity: Science and Management of Climate Change

The PhD programme in Science and Management of Climate Change is a joint initiative between Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change (CMCC) and Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS).

The PhD programme offers a 4-years fully funded scholarship, including one year of full-time coursework, with worldwide research opportunities and connections to a broad international network of top-level universities and research centres in the field, as well as placement in highly renowned institutions afterwards. The programme is conducted entirely in English.

Available positions: 6 with scholarships

Objectives of the PhD
The main objective of the programme is to prepare scholars who can navigate the complex and multi-faceted dimensions of the grand challenges posed by climate change. It prepares experts with a broad and thorough scientific background in economics and climate science who can:
– Understand and explain the physical and economic nature of climate change
– Assess the physical, biophysical, and socio-economic impacts of climate change
– Deal with uncertainty
– Evaluate the socio-economic implications of mitigation and adaptation policies in the broader context of sustainable development
– Develop and apply interdisciplinary methodologies to analyse and design innovative climate policy solutions
– Synthesize and communicate the different dimensions of climate change and their uncertainties to different users – from the general public to policy makers and the scientific community

Organisation of the PhD Programme
The PhD in Science and Management of Climate Change is a 4 year programme. During the first year students complete their coursework in Venice, while from the second year onward they develop their research projects and work on their final PhD dissertations. After completion of the first year, PhD students are required to spend a period conducting research at a foreign institution or university, to be agreed with the tutor and approved by the PhD Board. All PhD thesis will be externally reviewed by international referees.

The programme comprises 12 core courses of 6 ECTS each, from a range of subject areas. Students benefit from a balance between teaching and learning through a mix of lectures, seminars, external speakers, discussion group exercises, and case studies. Credits are acquired by attending the courses and by passing a final exam. Attendance is mandatory. Seminars, guest lectures, and elective thematic courses are organized throughout the year in order to facilitate interaction among students from different cycles and different programmes, as well as with invited guests from important research centres and universities.

PhD students completing their studies and receiving their PhDs will also receive the qualification of MPhil in Science and Management of Climate Change at the end of their 4-year programme.
Detailed info at the web page www.unive.it/phdclimatechange

For additional info about the application process, please write to phd.application@unive.it.

Application deadline
Please note that due to Coronavirus emergency, the deadline for the application for the PhD programme in Science and Management of Climate Change is postponed to Wednesday, May 27th , 2020, no later than 1 PM (Italian time)

OFFER DESCRIPTION

The 37^th cycle of the PhD in Science and Management of Climate Change is a joint initiative between Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC).

The PhD programme offers a 4-year fully funded scholarship, including one year of full-time coursework, with worldwide research opportunities and connections to a broad international network of top-level universities and research centers in the field, as well as placement in highly renowned institutions afterwards.

Students come from very diverse backgrounds, ranging from engineering science, to social science, political science, natural science, and environmental science.

The main objective of the programme is to create scholars who can navigate the complex and multi-faceted dimensions of the grand challenges posed by climate change. It prepares experts with a broad and thorough scientific background in economics, climate science, valuation techniques.

The programme offers a mix of practical and theoretical learning with a strong focus on the interaction between students and teaching staff. Experts from national and international organizations and research centers participate in some courses. The programme has connections with an extensive network of top universities (e.g. MIT, Harvard University, Columbia University, and Imperial College of London), national and international research institutes (e.g. CNR, CMCC, OGS, PIK), as well as consultancy agencies (e.g. Climate Policy Initiative) where students can conduct research for their PhD theses.

By acquiring a sound scientific understanding of how to approach climate change at the global level, PhD graduates will be able to assume leadership roles in the academic world (e.g. Georgia Institute of Technology, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, CMCC, CNR, and OGS), in consultancy, as well as in the energy and insurance sectors, both private (e.g. Climate Policy Initiative and Acclimatise) and public (e.g. World Bank, European Commission, and World Resources Institute).

Duration: 4 years

The programme is taught in English.

Candidates will be admitted to the PhD programme after passing a selection process (evaluation of academic qualifications and oral examination via videoconferencing) according to the conditions indicated in the call for applications.

Candidates are required to have certified English proficiency at least B2 level – under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – at the time of enrolment, except for the possibility of acquiring it subsequently, by no later than December 31st, 2021, otherwise they will be excluded from the PhD Programme.

Admitted candidates whose mathematical skills are not considered adequate are required to attend a Math preparatory course.

Total number of scholarships available: 7

Gross amount of the scholarship approximately € 75,300.00 (50% increase in the monthly scholarship for research periods abroad and annual budget for national and international research activities – € 1,534.00 during the 2nd 3rd and 4th year- not included).

Full details of the programme and application procedures can be found at: https://www.unive.it/pag/20822/

For further information, please contact: phd.application@unive.it