The School of Arts and Creative Technologies at the University of York is pleased to invite applications for a fully funded PhD studentship as part of the ERC Synergy Project “REM@KE” (Reconstructing Embodied Musical Knowledge at the Keyboard). The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary research team based in the UK, Italy, and Sweden, collaborating with leading scholars in music cognition, performance, organology, historical musicology, psychoacoustics, and digital humanities.
Application Deadline:
📅 Thursday, 8 May 2025, 12 noon (UK time)
Table of Contents
PhD Overview:
The School of Arts and Creative Technologies at the University of York invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship in Music Cognition, with a focus on qualitative research and organology, as part of the Horizon Europe – ERC Synergy Project “REM@KE” (Reconstructing Embodied Musical Knowledge at the Keyboard).
Get Up to $100,000 Student Loan for Your Master in US or Canada.
This four-year funded PhD is part of an interdisciplinary collaboration between the University of York (UK), University of Pavia (Italy), and University of Gothenburg (Sweden). The research will explore the role of embodied knowledge in keyboard musicianship and instrument-making across history.
Research Focus:
🎼 Investigating how musicians, instrument builders, educators, and listeners engage with historical keyboard instruments.
📖 Conducting qualitative interviews and data analysis to understand embodied interactions with these instruments.
🎹 Informing physical and digital reconstructions of historical keyboards through practice-based research.
Funding Benefits:
- Full tuition fee waiver (for UK and international students)
- Annual tax-free stipend of £20,780 (2025/26), with yearly increases
- Travel allowance for research, conferences, and workshops
- Four-year full-time funding
Eligibility Criteria:
Essential Requirements:
- Master’s degree in Music, Musicology, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Digital Humanities, or a related field
- Proven qualitative research skills
- Strong understanding of empirical musicology and embodied cognitive science
- Ability to work both independently and in a team
Desirable Skills:
- Background in historical performance practices and organology
- Familiarity with digital humanities, psychoacoustics, and computational musicology
- Interest in instrument-building techniques and practice-based research
How to Apply:
📌 Submit the following documents via the University of York online application portal by Thursday, 8 May 2025, 12 noon (UK time):
- CV (max 2 pages)
- Personal statement (max 1,500 words)
- Degree transcripts and certificates
- Two academic references (contact details required)
- Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable)
- Enter “REM@KE Studentship” in the funding field
🔗 Application Portal: Apply Here
📅 Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview after the deadline.
