LIFECHAIN: imagining alternative transport & logistics modes, modalities, and organisational forms under extreme disruptions for sustainable island ecosystems

The successful candidate will be based in our Orkney campus.

This research project will investigate the needs for sustainability transitions in existing supply chain operations and logistics systems for island systems that constitute remote economies. It aims to contribute to the next generation of financial, informational and physical connectivity solutions that are needed to instantiate bottom-up transformational changes.

Transport and connectivity are central to the sustenance and as such constitute lifelines for Island economies like the Orkney, Outer Hebrides and Shetland Islands. Lockdowns necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic have already shown the disruptive effects that such events can have on critical supplies e.g. PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment) that are essential to survival and sustenance. Transportation lockdowns, e.g. due to prolonged poor weather conditions because of climate change are not unimaginable for island economies. Furthermore, advanced information systems that moderate the links and flows between island systems have also become highly vulnerable and remain susceptible to significant disruptions. For example, recent incidents involving disruptions to global navigation systems, particularly Global Positioning System (GPS), underscore significant vulnerabilities in modern transportation networks. Passenger ships, ferries, cruise liners, and cross-island transportation (like short-distance flights) heavily depend on GPS for navigation and route optimization. A sudden loss of these systems could lead to accidents, collisions, or significant safety risks, especially in adverse weather conditions or in busy traffic environments. Prolonged supply chain disruptions would lead to a) the use of more environmentally unfriendly choices e.g. transport modes like Air shipments, and b) the loss of connectivity and sustenance for the island economies in the worst case. The purpose of this project is to identify local supply chain systems and alternative transport and logistics modes and modalities to improve planning and more sustainable futures for non-robust island supply chains. The PhD project is expected to investigate a future-oriented modality pertaining to either (or a combination of) the physical, financial or informational flows that constitute a logistics system.

The project will be done in cooperation with the Islands Centre for Net Zero (ICNZ), and its local network. Research will be carried out in the unique and growing research environment of the Systems Transition Engineering Processes (STEPs) research consortium at the Heriot-Watt University. You will be able to gain from competences and collaboration within the Global Research Institute on Net Zero and Beyond (iNetZ+)[1]; Islands Centre for Net Zero (ICNZ)[2]; Center for Sustainable Road Freight (CSRF[3]) and Clean Cooling Network (CCN[4]), all of which are relevant and supporting research environments. You will become an expert in engineering transitions in supply chain systems, and the research will help you develop expertise in the related methodologies at the Transition Lab at the Orkney Campus, but also with Transition Labs across the Scottish Highlands and Islands and in Edinburgh.

Working closely with the local port authority, transport and logistics service providers, consumers, retailers and suppliers the project will employ a structured approach that is guided by the following milestones:

M1- Background Research, problem and stakeholder identification.

M2 - Define and map supply chain robustness of the existing transportation and logistics networks

M3- Identify the range of disruptive scenarios in the context of the island economy

M4 - Envision alternative futures using the Transition Engineering approaches and InTime methodology

M5- Conduct research including but not limited to (lab and field) experiments, to understand user choices, supply and financing options under various scenarios.

M6- Develop and evaluate the sustainable concept and test functionality

M7- Critical examination of the results and developing conclusions

M8 - Publish and disseminate the findings, and explore commercial applications

The supervisory team brings the following skill sets to the project:

Business economics; Operations strategy; Supply chain management; Organisational theory; Digitalisation; Systems Science; Agent-based Modelling; Logistics; New Institutional Economics; International Economics, Transition Engineering.

Eligibility

This scholarship project is open to Home fee payers only.

The successful candidate will have a B.Sc. (2:1 or higher) and M.Sc. (distinction) or equivalent a background in Business Operations, Finance or Information Systems and good knowledge of social sciences and empirical research methods from within (business) Economics, Industrial Engineering or related fields. Experience of applying skills to disciplines such as Logistics, Operations and Supply Chain Management will be ideal. You will have good programming skills, preferably in NLP, Python, AnyLogic, ArcGIS, game development or other advanced programming languages. Knowledge of systems science, design science research and agent-based modelling would be beneficial. You will be highly self-motivated and confident enough to seek out solutions beyond the current team if required. You must be able to describe complex issues to the range of stakeholders.

Funding

This is a fully funded PhD opportunity for UK applicants only. Funding includes:

• Full tuition fees for 42 months at the Home rate. Thereafter, if you have not submitted your thesis you will be expected to pay a continuing affiliation fee (currently £130) whilst completing writing up.
• A competitive stipend paid in line with UKRI recommended rates, with a 10% uplift (£22,858 in 2025/26) for 42 months
• Support for conference travel, training, and research activities

How to apply

To apply you must complete our online application form. Please select PhD Environment. Include the full project title, reference number (EGIS2025DLA-AK2) and supervisor (Prof. Kinra) on your application form. Ensure that all fields marked as ‘required’ are complete.

Once you have entered your personal details, click submit. You will be asked to upload your supporting documents. You must complete the section marked project proposal; provide a supporting statement (1-2 A4 pages) documenting your reasons for applying to this particular project, outlining your suitability and how you would approach the project. You must also upload your CV, a copy of your degree certificate and relevant transcripts. You will be asked to enter details of an academic referee who will be able to provide a technical reference.

You must also provide proof of your ability in the English language (if English is not your mother tongue). Applicants must meet the criteria under 10. Postgraduate Research Students at this link: English language requirements | Heriot-Watt University

Please contact Prof. Aseem Kinra (A.Kinra@hw.ac.uk) for further information or an informal discussion.

Please contact egis-pgr-apps@hw.ac.uk for technical support with your application.

Timeline

The closing date for applications is 3rd August 2025, with interviews scheduled for mid-August. Applicants must be available to start the PhD by October 2025.