PhD Scholarships: Science Silk Road, Université Laval, Canada

Regional Studies Association; Quebec; On-site; CAD 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious academic organization invites applications for two full-time, 4-year PhD scholarships examining China's Science Silk Road initiative. Candidates with a Master's degree in relevant fields are encouraged to apply, focusing on environmental and space issues. The scholarships cover tuition and a competitive stipend, starting September 2026. Candidates must be fluent in English or French and demonstrate strong research capabilities. This is an opportunity to contribute to a significant international research project based in Quebec.

Benefits

Full tuition coverage

Competitive stipend

Additional research and travel funds

Dedicated workspace

Qualifications

• Candidates should hold or expect to attain a Master's degree by end of 2025-26.
• Strong interest in international scientific cooperation.
• Preference for experience in ethnographic fieldwork.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on the Science Silk Road.
• Work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Develop a plan of work including coursework and dissertation research.

Skills

Fluent in English

Fluent in French

Research skills

Interest in science diplomacy and policy

Experience in qualitative research

Education

Master’s degree with Merit or Distinction

Job description

As part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has launched the “Science Silk Road” program, aimed at investing in science, technology and innovation in countries along this newly envisioned Silk Road. Observers suggest that the emerging Science Silk Road may be exporting a distinct form of “Chinese science”, potentially giving rise to specific ways of doing science and alternative structures of the global science system.However, little is currently known about whether, and how, the Science Silk Road influences research practices and scientific knowledge production in BRI countries and globally.

We invite applications for two full-time, 4-year PhD scholarships for an international research project critically examining the multi-level impacts of China’s expanding scientific cooperation, with a particular focus on environmental and space issues, starting September 2026. These scholarships are open to candidates of any nationality. They cover full tuition fees and a competitive stipend, with an estimated total value of C$40,000 per year, subject to satisfactory progress. There are also additional funds for research and travel expenses, as well as dedicated workspace.

Funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, this project is a partnership between Université Laval in Quebec City and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) in Berlin. It aims to conduct one of the first in-depth analyses of the Science Silk Road, exploring its components, impacts on scientific knowledge production in BRI countries, and implications for established science powers and international science alliances. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from international relations, sociology of science, science and technology studies (STS), anthropology and geography, the project will contribute to theoretical and policy debates at the intersection of science policy and geopolitics in the 21 st century.

Successful candidates will be co-supervised by Prof. Hang Zhou and Prof. Jean-FrédéricMorin at Université Laval, alongside mentorship from Prof. Han Cheng and Prof. Anna Lisa Ahlers at MPIWG. A graduate advisory committee will be formed to guide the development of a plan of work, including coursework and dissertation research. Students will be expected to work independently, but also work in a team, carving out their individual contribution within the larger research project.

Candidates should hold, or expect to attain by the end of the 2025-26 academic year, a Master’s degree with Merit or Distinction in political science, international relations, sociology, anthropology, geography, or related disciplines. Candidates should have a strong interest in science diplomacy, science policy, STS, science and society, science for development, global governance of science, or international scientific cooperation. Knowledge of the BRI and Global China Studies is beneficial but not mandatory.

Candidates may choose to focus on either a global or regional level. A global focus requires proficiency in mixed methods such as case studies, interviews, surveys, or data analysis. A regional focus should demonstrate a strong background in qualitative research, with a preference for experience in ethnographic fieldwork in Africa or Latin America. Candidates must be fluent in English or French, both oral and written, with a good understanding of the other.

Application process:Interested applicants should email Prof. Han Cheng at [e-mail] , attaching the following documents:

• Academic CV.
• Cover Letter (1 page), outlining your motivations to enroll in a PhD program and how your past experiences and training have prepared you to conduct a PhD thesis.
• Copy of academic transcripts, including a list of courses.
• Research proposal (3 pages), including research questions, theoretical framework, methodology, and references.