PhD Studentship: Vulnerable Adolescence—Climate Shocks and Gender in India and Ethiopia (PDS Award)
This fully funded PhD studentship at The University of Manchester offers an exceptional opportunity to investigate the long-term, gendered impacts of climate shocks—specifically drought exposure—during adolescence in India and Ethiopia. The project is supported by the President’s Doctoral Scholar Award, covering tuition fees and a stipend at the UKRI rate plus a £1,000 enhancement for 3.5 years. Candidates are responsible for their own relocation and associated costs.
Climate change is increasingly shaping life chances across the Global South, yet there is limited understanding of how environmental shocks affect young people at critical developmental stages. Adolescence is a pivotal period when decisions about education, work, and marriage are made, and when gendered constraints can become entrenched, influencing life trajectories. This interdisciplinary research aims to fill a significant gap by examining how drought exposure during adolescence shapes educational, employment, and time-use outcomes for young women.
The project leverages longitudinal data from the Young Lives study, which has tracked cohorts of children into adulthood for over twenty years. By combining individual-level panel data with spatially explicit climate indicators, the research will identify causal impacts and trace household-level mechanisms. The mixed-methods design integrates rigorous quantitative analysis with qualitative fieldwork in both India and Ethiopia, illuminating not only whether and how climate shocks entrench gender inequalities, but also how norms and institutions shape responses to environmental stress.
Applicants should have a strong background in applied microeconometrics, be comfortable working with longitudinal survey data, and have training in causal inference methods. Experience with panel data analysis, difference-in-differences, or related techniques is highly advantageous. Enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research is essential, as the project bridges development economics, gender studies, geography, and environmental science. The successful candidate will engage across disciplinary boundaries, integrating quantitative rigour with qualitative depth.
Entry requirements include a First class Bachelor's (Honours) degree or overseas equivalent and a Master's degree in a relevant subject with an overall average of 65% or above and a minimum mark of 65% in the dissertation. English language proficiency must be demonstrated (IELTS 7.0 overall, 7.0 in writing, 6.0 in other sections; TOEFL 100 overall, 25 in all sections; PTE 76 overall, 76 in writing, 70 in other sections). Applicants must submit academic transcripts, certificates, CV, supporting statement, writing sample, and nominate two academic referees.
The supervisory team includes Prof Bina Agarwal, Dr CS Skordilis, Dr AA Aboobaker, and Dr KC Cieslik, offering expertise in development economics, gender analysis, political economy, and climate science. The successful candidate will join a vibrant doctoral community within the Faculty of Humanities Doctoral Academy and the School of Environment, Education and Development.
Applications must be submitted online for PhD Development Studies. Select 'Yes' for advertised project in Section 6, insert the project title, and indicate intention to apply for the PDS Award in Section 9. Ensure all required supporting documents are included. For questions, contact Prof Bina Agarwal at [email protected]. The application deadline is March 18, 2026, and interviews are expected in May 2026.
This PhD offers the chance to contribute to academic debates on climate-gender dynamics and life-course development, generating policy-relevant insights for gender-responsive climate adaptation, education, and social protection. It is ideal for quantitatively skilled graduates passionate about interdisciplinary inquiry and committed to understanding global inequality.
