King’s College London PhD Studentship on Justice and Energy Transitions with Emphasis on Critical Minerals 2026/2027

This fully funded PhD studentship is part of the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project, 'Justice in Critical Minerals Governance and Energy Transitions'. It offers an exceptional opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research on justice, community experiences, and governance within global energy transitions, with a specific focus on regions affected by critical mineral extraction. The successful applicant will join the African Leadership Centre (ALC) at King’s College London, a globally recognized hub for research and training.

The studentship is fully funded. It provides a stipend of £23,805 per year (paid at the UKRI rate), covers tuition fees of £8,000 (plus inflation for additional years), and includes a research allowance of £1,350 per year.

This opportunity welcomes ambitious applicants with a strong academic background and interest in justice, sustainability, governance, or energy transitions. Candidates must have a master’s degree (completed or near completion) in fields such as International Development, Political Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, Sociology, Anthropology, Law, or a related discipline. Essential requirements include a strong interest in interpretive, ethnographic, or community-centred research approaches, and demonstrated ability or potential to work with bottom-up, participatory, or co-creation methodologies. Experience using qualitative or multimodal analysis software (e.g., NVivo, Atlas.ti, MAXQDA) is also required. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in natural resource governance, energy transitions, environmental justice, or extractive politics, along with excellent written and verbal communication skills. Desirable qualifications include experience conducting fieldwork in Africa, Latin America, Australia, or other extractive regions, and a background in sustainability transitions, indigenous studies, or environmental governance. The PhD project is expected to have a global justice and energy transition appeal, making Ethiopian students eligible.

Applicants are required to submit the following documents: - A CV (maximum 2 pages). - A Cover Letter (1–2 pages) explaining your interest in the studentship, relevant experience, and how your background aligns with the project. - A Research Proposal (3,000–5,000 words) outlining your intended area of focus within the themes of justice, critical minerals, or energy transitions. - Academic transcripts. - Two references (at least one must be academic).

For more detailed information and to access the application portal, please visit the official King’s College London website provided. The application process typically involves submitting all required documents through the university's online system.

This PhD project offers flexibility for the candidate to shape their own research focus within the broader themes of justice, extractive industries, socio-environmental transitions, community participation, or bottom-up knowledge production. Comparative studies focusing on Ghana, Chile, or Australia would be looked at favourably, though the project has a global appeal.