A fully funded PhD opportunity is available at Queen's University Belfast, focusing on 'Re-Sounding Identities: VR Music-Making & Storytelling with Asylum-Seeking Communities in Northern Ireland.' This interdisciplinary project, led by Professor Franziska Schroder in collaboration with Kim-Marie Spence (Cultural Policy/Music Industry) and Linda Curtin (Immersive Ireland), explores how immersive technologies such as virtual reality can foster inclusion, belonging, and skills development for marginalized groups, particularly young women and girls from asylum-seeking communities.

The successful candidate will join the 'Performance without Barriers' research group and be based at the Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC), a renowned hub for innovative research in sound, music, and creative practice. SARC offers a dynamic environment for interdisciplinary research, drawing on two decades of expertise in sound and music as mechanisms for social and cultural engagement.

The project aims to address challenges of displacement, gender inequalities, and cultural invisibility through creative music-making and storytelling in VR environments. Candidates should have a strong academic background in music, arts, media studies, or related fields, with an interest or experience in immersive technologies and working with marginalized communities. Excellent communication and research skills are preferred.

Funding is provided through a 2026 Collaborative Studentship awarded by Queen’s Business and Alliance Team/Research and Enterprise Directorate. While specific stipend and tuition details are not listed, such studentships typically cover tuition and provide a living stipend.

For more information or to express interest, contact Professor Franziska Schroder at [email protected]. Applicants are encouraged to review the SARC research group and prepare application materials according to Queen's University Belfast PhD requirements. Relevant links include the SARC centre and Cultural Policy Observatory Ireland.