Higher Degree by Research Application Portal

Over the past few years, countries across East Africa have begun ever more road building projects, and upgrade schemes. It feels as though everywhere one looks in East Africa, new roads are being built, or will be soon built. These schemes are justified in terms of their economic benefits. However, further research is needed to understand their broader social-political, cultural and public health effects, especially upon the people who live alongside them. 

The University of Western Australia, with its partner institutions in Australia and Africa, are launching a new research programme on the anthropology of roads in East Africa. 

Applications are invited for a PhD project, hosted in the Ethnography Lab at the University of Western Australia, to undertake an ethnographic study of a road-building scheme (or schemes) in one East Africa country, as part of the Roads to the Future programme. The PhD project will be based at UWA, in Perth, but with extended fieldwork in the East African country of focus. Applicants are free to propose their project site, and area of focus, related to the socio-political or cultural impacts of roads, broadly defined. Preference will be given to projects which include the use of multi-modal research methods. 

We are looking for a high performing, enthusiastic and independent PhD candidate with a background in anthropology, or a cognate discipline. The candidate must be willing to undertake extended ethnographic fieldwork in an Africa country, and work alongside a range of stakeholders in-country, and with other PhD students in the Roads to Future project cohort. Previous experience in working with multi-modal methods is desirable.

To apply for this scholarship, please submit a course application here.

For further information, please contact Richard Vokes via the UWA Research Repository.