ARCS PhD Studentship – Archiving and Advancing the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra: Creative Practice and the Psychology of Large-Group Improvisation University of Edinburgh in United Kingdom

This fully funded, practice-based PhD studentship offers a unique opportunity for an interdisciplinary researcher or artist to engage with the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra (GIO), a renowned leader in large-group improvisation. The project is based at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh (UoE), and aims to deepen understanding of collective creativity through creative practice, archival research, and psychology.

The doctoral researcher will be responsible for creating a publicly accessible digital archive documenting 25 years of GIO’s work, including recordings, scores, and other materials. In addition, the student will develop new creative outputs inspired by the archive, such as performances, exhibitions, films, and other negotiated artistic responses. The archive will serve as a living resource, activating GIO’s legacy and enabling new forms of engagement.

Working closely with GIO musicians, the student will investigate how creativity is generated and sustained in large improvising ensembles, contributing to interdisciplinary research across music, psychology, and creative practice. The project addresses a gap in research on collaborative creativity in large-group improvisation, using GIO as a case study due to its long-standing, artist-led ensemble and extensive but under-archived body of work.

The PhD combines three main strands: archival research (gathering, organising, and curating GIO’s creative outputs), creative practice (developing new artistic work in collaboration with GIO), and qualitative inquiry (exploring musicians’ experiences of improvisation and collaboration). The student will participate in rehearsals, performances, and meetings, contributing as both researcher and creative practitioner. Outputs will be developed in dialogue with the supervisory team and GIO, allowing flexibility based on the candidate’s background and interests.

The researcher will be primarily based at RCS and work with GIO in Glasgow, with additional training opportunities at the University of Edinburgh. The project is structured in three phases: literature review and archival scoping; archive development and qualitative research; and evaluation, dissemination, and submission. The final submission will combine a portfolio of creative work (performances, archive, exhibitions) with a written thesis.

Supervision will be provided by Dr Una MacGlone (lead supervisor, RCS) and Prof. Raymond MacDonald (assistant supervisor, UoE). The studentship is funded by ARCS (Applied Research Studentships) through the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) and host institutions. Funding covers PhD tuition fees and an annual stipend of approximately £13,000 for 3.5 years full-time or £7,500 for 7 years part-time. RCS will waive any fee differences between home and international fees, making the opportunity accessible to Scottish, UK, and international applicants.

Applicants should have a strong academic background in music, creative practice, psychology, or related fields, with interdisciplinary experience and artistic practice highly valued. The application deadline is Tuesday, May 26, 2026. For full project and application details, visit the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland course page.