There are two studentships on offer focusing on adoption of digital technologies in either business services or retail services.
The first studentship will encompass a doctoral student undertaking research on the role of international comparisons of the take up of digital technology at work with a particular focus on business services; this may cover the area of legal services, HR, consultancy, accountancy or finance The student will undertake research using a range of research methods to compare the extent to which digital technologies are being adopted by firms. It is anticipated this will draw on internationally comparative data as well as on more qualitative sector case studies in two countries, one of which would be the UK. During this research time, a student will be collaborating with a range of partners, including relevant governments departments and with business service firms based in the UK, EU and North America. The student main supervisor will be Prof Jacqueline O’Reilly (Digit Director) with co-supervision from Prof Richard Dickens (Economics, University of Sussex Business School).
The second studentship will involve a doctoral student undertaking research on the role of international comparisons of the take up of digital technology at work with a particular focus on retail services. High street retailing has been particularly keenly affected by the advent of online shopping with the consequence of significant bankruptcies and job losses. At the same time employment in retail has increased with the growth of warehouse and delivery jobs servicing the demand from Internet shoppers. The doctoral student will be undertaking research using a range of research methods to compare the extent to which digital technology is being adopted by firms in the retail sector. This will draw on internationally comparative data as well as on more qualitative sector case studies in two countries, one of which would be the UK, and can draw on the close links Digit has with retail firms e.g. in the UK and US. The student main supervisor will be Prof Jacqueline O’Reilly, with co-supervision from Dr Odul Bozkurt (HRM, University of Sussex Business School).
Both studentships will receive all the shared support available to the Early Career Researchers (ECRs) at the University of Sussex, in addition to that provided by the Digit centre through the Mid- and Early-Career Researchers (MECR) Forum, and through SeNSS. They will be mentored by senior academics outside their host university and will be able to attend dedicated training events and workshops. They will belong to a larger cohort of PhD students and ECRs across the various locations of the Digit centre and will be expected to take an active part in joint activities, events and career development opportunities.