AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP)

The AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) studentship, 'Histories of Pollution in the Urban Art Museum, c. 1840–1900', offers a unique opportunity to undertake PhD research at the intersection of art, environmental history, and museum studies. This project is a collaboration between University College London (UCL) and The National Gallery, jointly supervised by Dr Nicholas Robbins (UCL Department of History of Art) and Dr Susanna Avery-Quash (National Gallery).

The research focuses on the Victorian art museum as a site where urban pollution posed significant threats to cultural artefacts and buildings. It investigates how curators, conservators, scientists, critics, artists, and the public responded to these challenges, developing new practices and reflecting on the wider cultural meanings of pollution during the nineteenth century. The National Gallery serves as a central case study, highlighting networks of individuals who studied pollution's effects, devised mitigation strategies, and contributed to broader debates about art, environment, and society in industrial Britain.

This fully funded studentship is hosted between UCL's History of Art Department and the National Gallery, commencing on 1 October 2026. The successful candidate will spend time at both institutions and join a cohort of CDP-funded students across the UK. The PhD can be pursued full-time (4 years) or part-time (up to 8 years), with comprehensive funding that covers tuition fees (home and international), a full maintenance stipend, a CDP maintenance payment, and an annual grant for travel and expenses provided by the National Gallery. Additional research funding is available from UCL and the History of Art Department.

Applicants should hold or be completing a master’s-level degree in a relevant subject (such as history of art, museum studies, history of science, cultural history, or technical art history) or demonstrate equivalent professional experience. The studentship is open to both home and international applicants, and applications from people of Global Majority backgrounds are particularly encouraged. The project offers the chance to develop new narratives about the relationship between art, environment, institutions, and the public in the nineteenth century, contributing to heritage studies, social history, and environmental science.

To apply, visit the FindAPhD project link and follow the instructions. Prepare your supporting documents and ensure you meet the eligibility criteria. For further details, contact the supervisors or the department. This studentship provides a stimulating environment for interdisciplinary research, with access to leading academic and cultural institutions, and generous funding support.