Eli Lazarus

The Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships Programme for Interdisciplinary Resilience Studies (PIRS) at the University of Southampton offers a unique opportunity for aspiring PhD students to engage in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research addressing global challenges. Funded by the Leverhulme Trust, this prestigious programme is designed to prepare the next generation of researchers to tackle complex societal issues through the integration of arts, humanities, and social sciences perspectives into resilience research. The PIRS programme features a cohort-based, liberal arts educational model, combining interdisciplinary core training with discipline-specific expertise. Core modules include 'Thinking in Systems' and 'Critical Perspectives of Resilience,' alongside workshops on cross-disciplinary collaboration and professional development. Successful candidates will receive a PhD and a formal Certificate in Interdisciplinary Resilience Studies. Projects span a wide range of topics, such as environmental change, social inequities, health and wellbeing, technological evolution, resilient food supply chains, urban high-streets, online communities, climate change adaptation, and more. The programme supports both supervisor-led projects and applicant-proposed ideas, drawing on expertise from across the University's faculties, including Geography and Environmental Science, Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and others. Fully funded studentships are available, typically covering tuition fees, a stipend, and research costs. Both UK and international students are eligible to apply, though international applicants must cover their own visa and health surcharge fees. The application deadline for the 2026 cohort is 31 January 2026, with studies commencing in October 2026. Applicants should have a strong academic background in a relevant discipline, a keen interest in interdisciplinary research, and meet the University's English language requirements. For more information, available projects, and application instructions, visit the PIRS website .