Study with us

The Centre for the Humanities Engaging Science and Society (CHESS) in the Philosophy Department at Durham University UK is seeking applicants for funded PhD Studentships in Transformative Humanities.  

Each studentship will offer a tuition fee waiver, a stipend for 3.5 years (full time) or 7 years (part time) at the level set by UKRI, additional funding opportunities, and access to training and placement resources. This scheme will support outstanding candidates beginning a PhD programme in October 2026 on projects related to the themes of our Transformative Humanities framework. Successful applicants will become members of the CHESS research group and be based in the Philosophy Department.  

CHESS is particularly interested in supporting applicants studying history or philosophy of science that has interdisciplinary links. We encourage projects that align with our academic faculty’s expertise, including in areas like:  

• Philosophy of Science and the Environment 
• Philosophy of Hazard, Risk, or Resilience 
• Science and Society 
• Philosophy of Medicine 
• Philosophy and the Social Sciences 
• AI Epistemology and AI Ethics 
• History of Science 
• History of Medicine 

Applicants interested in this opportunity should contact Dr. Greg Lusk (CHESS Co-Director) at greg.lusk@durham.ac.uk to discuss this opportunity ASAP, ahead of writing their application.  

Deadline for funding consideration: 23.59 (UK time) on 16 January 2026 

Applications for this scheme will open on 3 November 2025. Please see this website for further information. 

Applications will consist of: 

• a research proposal (max. 1,000 words) that clearly defines research questions and context, the intended approach and methods, the relevance of the project to transformative humanities, and the fit with Durham University. 
• a CV 
• an equal opportunities monitoring form (please see the website) 
• the names of two referees. Upon submission of the application, referees will receive an automated message and will have two weeks to submit their references. 

Prospective applicants for this scheme are welcome to join an information and Q&A session at 3pm (UK time) on 10 November 2025. Please use this link to join the event. 

Successful applicants will be notified in March 2026. 

Philosophy at Durham University   

Durham Philosophy is a vibrant, pluralistic and growing community of scholars and academics, situated in the North East of England. We have a thriving and supportive PhD program, with a strong emphasis on student participation and a competitive placement record. In REF2021, we were ranked 7th in the UK in terms of Research Power, and the department was ranked 31st in the world by the 2025 QS World University Subject Rankings. The department has also been ranked in the top 10 for Philosophy in the latest Guardian and Times University rankings, and Durham University has been named The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2026. 

Supervision 

CHESS welcome applicants for PhD studentships with potential PhD supervisors and topics attached to CHESS including:

Professor Nancy Cartwright - Durham University

Professor Robin Hendry - Durham University - history of chemical pollution, water purity governance etc.

Professor Peter Vickers - Durham University – the relationships between scientific consensus, ‘facts’, and environmental policy.

Dr Sarah Wieten - Durham University - Concepts of health as environmental or mixed philosophical/qualitative approaches to environmental study.

Dr Emily Webster - Durham University - environmental history, history of disease and environment, history and philosophy of biology/ecology, interdisciplinary approaches to the environment, public health and environment in historical perspective.

Dr Gregory Lusk - Durham University

Please note, candidates MUST have an offer for a place on a PhD programme by the deadline. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship opportunity, please get in touch ASAP.

Please contact admin.chess@durham.ac.uk with any queries you may have, all tentative queries are welcome.

Academic visits to Durham

Durham is a wonderful place to visit via scholarly fellowships. These can be a great opportunity to collaborate with our CHESS members in a supportive working environment. Fellowships do involve a fee, but in some circumstances, this can be waived.

If you are interested in learning more about our work, would like to arrange a fellowship, or suggest a joint event contact us! We can best be reached at admin.chess@durham.ac.uk.