PhD research–areas and projects
Geography has a wide range of research interests and expertise covering Human and Physical topics where we can offer supervision for research degrees.
Human Geography
There are two human geography research groups: Geographical Political Economy and Transforming Cities.
Manchester has a strong reputation in the areas of economic geography and urban geography. The Geographical Political Economy research group centres on the analysis of the material, social and cultural processes that shape and transform geographies of production, reproduction and nature. Members of this group – Gavin Bridge, Noel Castree, Neil Coe, James Evans, Martin Hess, Erik Swyngedouw and Kevin Ward – all draw upon political economy to understand four related issues:
- Corporate networks
- Governance
- Nature and resources
- Work and employment
The Transforming Cities research group conveys Manchester geographers’ international recognition of excellence in urban research. Theorizing critically and substantiating empirically the socio-political and cultural processes that produce urbanity members of this group – Jonathan Darling, Martin Dodge, James Evans, Mark Jayne, Maria Kaika, Fiona Smyth, Erik Swyngedouw and Kevin Ward – lead research agendas which include:
- identities, exclusion and inclusion
- urban assemblages
- politics of architectural technology and design
- everyday life
Physical Geography
The University of Manchester has a long tradition of excellent research in the areas of geomorphology, environmental change and human-environment interactions. Physical Geography research at Manchester is currently carried out through two research groups: Environmental Processes and Quaternary Environments and Geoarchaeology.
The Environmental Processes research group comprises Clive Agnew, Tim Allot, Martin Evans, Claire Goulsbra, Angela Harris, Sarah Lindley, Julia McMorrow, and James Rothwell. Their work includes the analysis of environmental processes at a range of spatial scales and geographical locations, but particularly in upland and urban environments. Fundamental and applied research is supported by the Research Councils (particularly NERC and EPSRC) and a range of government and non-government agencies (DEFRA, DTI, Northwest Development Agency, UKCIP, Environment Agency, Natural England and Moors for the Future). Specialisms include:
- Geomorphology and earth system processes.
- Hydrology and freshwater environmental sciences.
- Geographical information sciences, including terrain analysis and terrestrial remote sensing.
- Urban climatology, climate adaptation and urban air pollution.
The Quaternary Environments and Geoarchaeology group is particularly interested in the analysis of the response of geomorphological systems and ecosystems to global climate change, incorporating a distinctive geoarchaeology research agenda. The group comprises Tim Allot, Jeff Blackford, Richard Huggett, Philip Hughes, Pete Ryan and Jamie Woodward, whose work is primarily carried out in upland environments in the UK, the Mediterranean and North America. Research in these areas is funded by various bodies, including NERC, the Royal Society and EPSRC. The group’s expertise spans:
- Glaciology and mass balance modelling.
- Glacial, fluvial and lacustrine systems.
- Palaeoecology and environmental reconstruction (Pleistocene and Holocene).
- Geoarchaeology.
If you already have any idea of what you would like to research, please contact potential supervisors who will help you with your application.
Alternatively, staff have suggested a number of Research opportunities for PhD research that they would be happy to supervise.