The Leverhulme PhD Programme for Interdisciplinary Resilience Studies is administered by the Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences. This particular project will sit under the Southampton Business School in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Overview

This project explores sustainable development strategies for critical minerals (such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements) using game theory. By modelling the strategic interactions between governments, mining companies, and supply chain actors, the research aims to balance economic gains, environmental sustainability, and resource availability. The study focuses on how cooperation and competition influence decision-making in resource extraction, addressing challenges like environmental impacts, geopolitical tensions, and market volatility. This interdisciplinary research integrates game theory, sustainability, and supply chain management, offering insights into resilient, sustainable critical mineral supply chains.

Summary

This project aims to develop sustainable strategies for managing critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, which are essential for technologies like electric vehicles, renewable energy, and electronics. These resources are finite and increasingly contested, raising urgent concerns about environmental degradation, geopolitical risks, and supply chain volatility.

Using game theory , this research models the strategic decisions made by key stakeholders, including governments, mining companies, and manufacturers. The focus is on how different actors cooperate or compete over resource extraction, environmental regulations, and profit-sharing. The project will explore scenarios where sustainable practices can emerge through collaboration, despite competing interests, while minimizing environmental impacts and ensuring long-term resource availability.

Applicants will benefit from interdisciplinary training, blending game theory , supply chain management , and sustainability studies , gaining expertise in high-demand areas like resource economics and policy-making. The research will directly contribute to the growing field of sustainable supply chains, particularly in critical sectors that rely on rare materials.

The project’s impact lies in providing actionable insights for policy-makers and industries to navigate the complexities of critical mineral management, enabling sustainable resource use while maintaining economic competitiveness. It aligns with ongoing research in resilience studies , contributing to the global dialogue on resource scarcity and sustainable development.

General requirements

You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree or higher in a relevant subject.

You can also have its international equivalent .

International applications

If English is not your first language, you will need an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in all components.

Visit our English language proficiency pages to find out about other qualifications we accept .

How to apply

• Apply to PhD in Business and Management on the University of Southampton application portal.
• Programme for Interdisciplinary Resilience Studies application documents
• Narrative résumé
• Standardised CV giving details of your academic record and stating your research interests
• Name two current academic referees together with an institutional email addresses in the Reference section of the application form. On submission of your online application your referees will be automatically emailed requesting they send a reference to us directly by email.
• Your academic transcript and degree certificate (translated if not in English) - if you have completed both a BSc & an MSc, we require both.
• If a student-led application: research proposal document
• IELTS/TOEFL certificate, if applicable. For more information, please see the University of Southampton's English Language Proficiency page.
• https://pirs.soton.ac.uk/apply/

Please ensure that you provide all required documentation and information so that your application can be reviewed and processed.