Furniture Industry Research Association offer a PhD opportunity

The Furniture Industry Research Association is pleased to announce the sponsorship of a PhD Studentship, offering a bursary of up to £9,300 per annum towards tuition fees and living costs. The research is to focus on design or manufacturing of contemporary furniture, looking at the development of either innovative furniture materials or volume production processes that can be embraced by British furniture manufacturers.
This studentship offers candidates the opportunity to study with expert practitioners and research staff from both Buckinghamshire New University and Rycotewood Furniture Centre at Oxford & Cherwell Valley College, partners of The National School of Furniture. The research-based studentship will lead to a PhD degree by thesis from Coventry University for the successful candidate and will commence in 2011.
Commenting, FIRA Chairman Michael Powell Said, “I am delighted that the Furniture Industry Research Association is now supporting a PhD bursary at Bucks New University. It is during difficult economic times like these, when there is often a desire to cut funding, that long term investment into helping develop knowledge and competitive advantage of British furniture manufacturing is most important.”
Applicants should normally have obtained or be about to obtain a good honours degree and a postgraduate degree, or a first class honours degree in a relevant subject. Applications will also be considered from candidates with no postgraduate qualifications who have at least ten years experience in the furniture industry.
The successful applicant for the studentship will receive a bursary of £9,500 per annum towards tuition fees (currently £9,300 pa for overseas students; £3,750 pa for home/EU students in 2011/12) and living costs. In addition to the bursaries there may be teaching opportunities up to a maximum of six hours per week, paid at an hourly rate of £38.79. Financial support may be provided to attend approved conferences in the UK and overseas through application to the Faculty Management Team. Continued funding is dependent on satisfactory progress and upgrade from MPhil to PhD status within eighteen months of registration.

To complete an application form and research proposal, please contact William Lishman, by emailing, ResearchUnit@bucks.ac.uk. The closing date for applications is 22 October 2011. Interviews are expected to be held shortly thereafter.

For full details of the studentship and the bursary offered, please click here or to discuss this opportunity, please contact Dr Lynn Jones at: lynn.jones@bucks.ac.uk