The PhD programme in Economics of the Tuscan Universities is pleased to announce the second call for applications for the 40th cycle. They will be open until July 16Th, 2024, at 2 pm, Central European Time. We are currently awarding 5 positions with full-scholarship, among which:
3 are ‘free topic’: PhD candidates awarded shall carry out their research activities on a topic agreed upon with their thesis supervisor
1 is linked to the specific research theme “Distributive Justice and Environmental Sustainability: An Application to the Fashion Industry”
1 is linked to the specific research theme “Sustainability Decision Framework: Economic Analysis and Policy Implications”
Candidates are required to apply to each type of position in separate procedures. Those applying to ’free topic’ positions can submit a unique form. For those interested in the two specific research themes, a single application is necessary for each of them. In general, we suggest that potential candidates apply to the ‘’free topic’’ first and adapt, whenever possible, her/his research proposal to the remaining calls.
For more information, see Admission Procedures below.
https://www.unisi.it/ricerca/dottorati-di-ricerca/dottorati-di-ricerca-40-ciclo
General info on the programme:
Our three-year program requires a full-time commitment and aims to train students for a career as economists in academia, private and public research institutions. The first year consists of intensive coursework, which provides PhD candidates with the knowledge and analytical skills needed to conduct the highest-level research. Courses are mainly held at the University of Siena, where students are welcome to apply for accommodation facilities. In the second and third years, they are free to choose where to develop their research project — either at the University of Florence, Pisa, or Siena — depending on personal interests and scholarship type. All students must complete a six-month visiting period in a foreign institution, which comes with a 50% increase in the scholarship.
Info on the research theme “Distributive Justice and Environmental Sustainability: An Application to the Fashion Industry”
This PhD project is situated within the broader context of the Just Transition initiatives undertaken by the Clean Clothes Campaign. The successful candidate will collaborate with Fair (https://www.faircoop.it/), the coordinating body of the Italian coalition, and a partner in the consortium steering the "Fashioning Just Transition" project funded by the European Union. The primary objective of this research is to develop a comprehensive framework that addresses the longstanding tensions between development, labor dynamics, and environmental sustainability, with a particular emphasis on Global North-Global South relationships. Despite the broad literature on these topics, there remains a significant gap in systemic analyses thatintegrate instituti onal variables, social and environmental impacts, and consumerchoic es. By focusing on the fashion industry, this research provides a unique opportunity to examine a critical sector. This industry is at the forefront of behavioral shifts in the Global North and work-climate conflicts in the Global South, making it an ideal case for studying the intersection of social justice and environmental sustainability.
This innovative research aims to develop a platform that utilizes artificial intelligence algorithms to integrate indicators from diverse fields and geographical contexts to improve the ability of stakeholders do deal with SDGs. The first phase of the PhD program focuses on the creation of this AI-driven platform. In the second phase, the platform will be tested to assess the compatibility of sustainable development goals across social and environmental spheres. The goal is to develop a comprehensive communication web portal and application solution that provides digital information
services to a variety of organizations, including public, non-profit, and for-profit entities, as well as consultants. By offering detailed digital information across different subject areas, the platform will empower policymakers and other stakeholders to select effective decarbonization strategies that consider the systemic relationships within the relevant social context. This doctoral program benefits from a collaboration with TD-Group, an IT company dedicated to developing the necessary algorithms for the digital information platform.
Research project in English and no longer than 8 pages.
2 letters of reference from professors and/or research professionals.
Abstract of the Master degree/specialisation/old degree thesis or equivalent foreign title translated into Italian, English or French no longer than 2 pages.
English language certification, if any, is assessed positively.
Eligibility of foreign degrees is ascertained by the selection committee in accordance with relevant regulations and international agreements on the recognition of qualifications for further studies. They need to be translated into Italian, English or French.Applications will be received until July 16th 2024, at 2 pm, Central European Time, exclusively through Online Secretariat. Instructions for submitting applications are available on the dedicated website section. Furthermore, the schedules indicating the positions, modalities and dates of the exams are available on the specific PhD site.
