General Information:
The UNIQ+ program is a research internship that is for UK undergraduate students (ordinary residents) from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds. It is an experience in postgraduate research, where you will join a project led by (and therefore meet and work with) research staff and graduate students, attend training skills and information sessions, and have the opportunity to take part in different events.
Details:
The internship will run from Monday 7 July to Thursday 21 August, and the selected candidate will work on a project supervised by Professor Damian Robinson and a doctoral student.
The project is titled ‘Considering Maritime Archaeology in Marine Spatial Planning.’
This project addresses the critical gap between marine science, maritime archaeology, and environmental research at a time when climate change presents unprecedented challenges to our oceans. By examining both the divergent frameworks and the absence of shared vocabulary across these disciplines, we aim to bridge these divides. The research focuses on how maritime cultural landscapes – or cultural seascapes – operate within planned marine spaces globally, exploring how maritime archaeology aligns with international biodiversity and economic objectives. Our ultimate goal is to demonstrate that integrating heritage and ecological considerations can not only enrich environmental research but also create mutual benefits across all aspects of marine spatial planning.
Interns will be involved in analyzing documents and datasets that relate to marine spatial planning (MSP) and maritime archaeology both in theory and practice. Tasks will include setting up parameters for systematic reviews, reviewing documents, and creating a database to organize the findings. Interns will also work with GIS tools to compile data and analyze it using Python. There’s also the potential to conduct interviews with leading organizations like NOAA, BOEM, DEFRA, and Natural England.
For your work, you will contribute to a journal publication and listed as a coauthor. By the end of the programme, you will have developed expertise in marine spatial planning as it relates to heritage and will gain valuable research skills. You’ll learn how to set up and run a systematic review, create a database, and work with GIS and data analysis tools.
To apply, you should:
- Be ordinarily resident in the UK (this means your residence shouldn’t primarily be for studying).
- Be in the process of completing, or have already completed, your undergraduate degree at a UK or Irish university.
- Have completed at least one full year of study if you’re still an undergraduate.
- Not have started or be studying for a PhD/DPhil, nor have an offer for one.
- Meet one of the criteria listed here: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/access/uniq-plus/eligibility-requirements
For this project, applicants should ideally be studying for a degree in archaeology, environmental studies, geography, or a related subject. You should have solid research skills in areas like humanities, social sciences, or life sciences. Familiarity with GIS, R, or systematic reviews would be helpful but is not required.
How to Apply: Applications are now open, and we encourage applications. For more information about how to apply, please visit https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/access/uniq-plus/application-guide. The application closes at 12:00 midday (UK time) on Wednesday 19 February 2025.
For more details about UNIQ+ and the available research opportunities, please visit https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/access/uniq-plus/about.
- A payment of at least £3,300 for the seven-week programme (taking place Monday 7 July to Thursday 21 August) designed to offset any loss of the opportunity to take up paid employment during the summer. The stipend includes a contribution towards any expenses that may be incurred travelling to and from Oxford; and
- free-of-charge accommodation in Oxford