Grace Denton
Project title: The nominally sovereign body: A practice-based exploration of the language of self-governance through the prism of AD/HD
Supervisors:
Prof. Christine Borland
Prof. Clarke Lawlor
Blanca Pujals
Project title: A Synthetic Universe. The Unmaking of Microscopic Bonds in Transnational Space
Supervisors:
Prof. Fiona Crisp
Prof. Andrea Phillips
Prof. Monica Bello (CERN)
Helen Knowles
Project title: More Than Human Healthcare: A practice-based study of relationships where plant and artificial intelligences look after human health
Supervisors:
Prof. Christine Borland
Prof. Fiona Crisp
Dr Tehseen Noorani (Durham University)
Annie Carpenter
Project title: Playing with the Terrains of Art and Science: Disrupting the Dichotomous Dynamics of Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Supervisors:
Prof. Fiona Crisp
Prof. Christine Borland
Alis Oldfield
Project title: The (Re)Wilding of the In-terra-net
Supervisors:
Prof. Christine Borland
Prof. Fiona Crisp
Prof. Jeff Warbuton (Durham University, Department of Geography)
Laura Harrington
Project title: Upstream Consciousness: an exploration of artists’ fieldwork through boggy knowledge
Supervisors:
Prof. Rona Lee
Prof. Ysanne Holt
Dr Crystal Bennes
Project title: Indirect observations and cultural translations: contemporary art, particle physics, hidden nature and scientific objectivity
Supervisors:
Dr Julie Crawshaw
Dr Victoria Horne
Awarded: 2022
Dr Louise Mackenzie
Project title: Evolution of the Subject – Synthetic Biology in Fine Art Practice
Supervisors:
Prof. Fiona Crisp
Prof. Christine Borland
Prof. Volker Straub (Institute of Genetic Medicine)
Awarded: 2018
Dr Daksha Patel
Project title: The Concept of Noise in Medical Visualisations Perceived Through a Contemporary Drawing Practices
Supervisors:
Prof. Sian Bowen
Prof. Christine Borland
Prof. Chris Dorsett
Awarded: 2018
Dr Jacqueline Donachie
Project title: Illuminating Loss; a study of the capacity for art practice to shape research and care in the field of inherited genetic illness
Supervisors:
Prof. Chris Dorsett
Prof. Clarke Lawlor
Awarded: 2016
Dr Marianne Wild
Project title: Seeing & Saying: Visual imaginings for disease causing genetic mutations
Supervisors:
Prof. Cheryl Buckley
Prof. David Campbell
Prof. Volker Straub (Institute of Genetic Medicine)
Awarded: 2012
How to Apply for PhD study at Northumbria
PhD proposals that lead to a practice-based research portfolio with complementary writing (c. 40,000 words) or written 80,000-word thesis on history or theory themes within the remit of CNoS supervision (see below) are welcomed. We are happy to receive proposals which include cross-disciplinary, cross Faculty and cross-institutional supervisory teams.
To apply, you will need to provide a research proposal outlining your research area, methods, and initial literature review. To aid this process, we recommend that you use our PhD Proposal Template (see below), which includes guidance on what to include. We strongly recommend that you contact either Professor Fiona Crisp or Professor Christine Borland as CNoS Research Group leads before applying. We can then put you in contact with an appropriate supervisor to look over a draft of your proposal.
CNoS focuses on the cultural negotiation of the bio-medical, natural, environmental, computer and information sciences as a broad theme; supervisory expertise includes but is not limited to:
Ecological-systems thinking
Digital/data embodiment
The histories of art and technology
Psychedelic and counter-cultural engagements with technologies
Media materiality
Media and environment
Real-Time simulations
New Materialism
Subjectivity, diversity and gender in science
Science fiction, speculative fabulation & folklore at the intersection of art and ecology
Intangible & embodied knowledge
Human & other than human synergies of care
Funding Routes
Competitive funding for PhD study is available at Northumbria that covers fees and living costs (c. £15k per year). These are highly competitive funds shared across multiple universities and subjects. There are no set allocations. Candidates with a strong academic profile (MA Distinction or High Merit) combined with professional experience are encouraged to get in contact with either Professor Fiona Crisp or Professor Christine Borland to discuss their proposals.
The two routes are:
• AHRC Northern Bridge Consortium
• Researcher Development Fund (RDF) (Northumbria)
Application windows for these schemes are usually from October to January each academic year, to start in October the following year. We strongly recommend that you contact us prior to application for feedback on the viability and timeliness of your proposal.
Three steps to applying for a studentship:
1. Identify and speak to a prospective supervisor: We strongly recommend that you contact either Professor Fiona Crisp or Professor Christine Borland as CNoS Research Group leads who can connect you with an appropriate supervisor.
2. Application Round 1: Apply for a place on our PhD programme (normally for December/January)
3. Application Round 2: The strongest applicants will be invited to complete a studentship application form for the Northern Bridge Consortium and receive one-to-one support in refining their applications.
All of our studentships are extremely popular and very competitive. The process after the application deadline differs for each studentship scheme. Most candidates will receive confirmation by May.