PhD Studentship: The Home Darkroom and the Freedom of Photographic Production in Britain, 1950s-Present

3 weeks ago


London, Greater London, United Kingdom University of Westminster Full time

The University of Westminster and the Museum of the Home (MotH) are delighted to announce a call for applicants for a fully funded collaborative doctoral studentship from October 2024, under the AHRC's Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP4) scheme.

This PhD will be the first to research the relationship between the home darkroom and LGBTQ+ people's quest for freedom of expression and visual representation in Britain from the 1950s to the present. The project will combine the archival study of LGBTQ+ photographic practices at home with two complementary collecting projects: oral history interviews with LGBTQ+ darkroom users and photographs of and produced in home darkrooms. By working with contemporary practitioners, the student will also rethink how to share such hidden stories with museum audiences.

The project will be supervised by Dr Sara Dominici (Senior Lecturer in Photographic History and Visual Culture), Professor Pippa Catterrall (Professor of History and Policy) and Dr Alison Hesse (Lecturer in Museum and Gallery Studies) at Westminster; and, at the MotH, by Marina Maniadaki (Exhibitions and Project Manager) and Louis Platman (Curator). The successful applicant will be expected to spend time at both Westminster and at the MotH, as well as becoming part of the wider cohort of AHRC-funded students.

The core research aims are:

  1. To explore, for the first time, the fundamental role played by the domestic environment in fostering a material and imaginative space within which photographic representation of LGBTQ+ life in Britain could be created;
  2. To research and collect: i) LGBTQ+ people's memories and lived experiences of the home darkroom in Britan from the 1950s to the present, and ii) photographs of and that were produced in this space, in order to understand how the home darkroom has shaped LGBTQ+ histories and perspectives;
  3. To diversify the understanding of home, and, consequently, the experience of the museum, by developing a new museological approach to sharing LGBTQ+ stories of image-making at home.

Please include in your application:

  • Personal Statement (max. 1,500 words) explaining why you are interested in researching this topic, including what you would bring to the project and how you think you would develop it to reflect your own interests and expertise;
  • A sample of writing. This could be a piece of academic writing (e.g., MA dissertation) or a text written in the course of any current or previous professional work;
  • Your CV;
  • Two references;
  • Transcript of university-level grades and qualification certificates.

NB: On completing the application form:

  • Please choose the following programme area when making your application 'MPhil/PhD Visual Culture' You must apply for this programme to be eligible for the AHRC CDP studentship. If you apply for a programme in other areas your application will not be eligible.
  • Under 'Additional Course Questions'>> 'If you are applying for a Westminster Studentship' please write 'AHRC Museum of the Home CDP'.

All prospective students are strongly advised to first make informal contact with the lead supervisor. Dr Sara Dominici ).

Apply for the Full-Time Route

Apply for the Part-Time Route

The deadline for applications is 5pm (BST) on Friday 17th May 2024

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 5th June 2024

Further Details are Available Here

UKRI National Minimum Doctoral Stipend for 2024/2025 is £19,237, plus a CDP maintenance payment of £600/year, plus London Weighting of £2,000/year



  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom University of Westminster Full time

    The University of Westminster and the Museum of the Home (MotH) are delighted to announce a call for applicants for a fully funded collaborative doctoral studentship from October 2024, under the AHRC's Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP4) scheme. This PhD will be the first to research the relationship between the home darkroom and LGBTQ+ people's quest...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom City, University of London Full time

    Start Date: 1st October 2024 City, University of London and Imperial War Museums (IWM) announce a fully funded doctoral studentship under the AHRC's CDP scheme, starting October 2024. This PhD project will explore the visual documentation of India's role in the Second World War in South-East Asia, using IWM's archives. It aims to inform current historical,...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom City, University of London Full time

    Start Date: 1st October 2024 City, University of London and Imperial War Museums (IWM) announce a fully funded doctoral studentship under the AHRC's CDP scheme, starting October 2024. This PhD project will explore the visual documentation of India's role in the Second World War in South-East Asia, using IWM's archives. It aims to inform current historical,...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom City, University of London Full time

    Start Date: 1st October 2024 City, University of London and Imperial War Museums (IWM) announce a fully funded doctoral studentship under the AHRC's CDP scheme, starting October 2024. This PhD project will explore the visual documentation of India's role in the Second World War in South-East Asia, using IWM's archives. It aims to inform current historical,...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom University of East London Full time

    University of East London – Research Excellence PhD Studentship (fee waiver)The University of East London (UEL) is seeking highly qualified and motivated students for Research Excellence PhD Studentships (fee waiver) commencing in July or September 2024. Applications are welcomed from both UK and international candidates.These prestigious Research...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom University of East London Full time

    University of East London – Research Excellence PhD Studentship (fee waiver)The University of East London (UEL) is seeking highly qualified and motivated students for Research Excellence PhD Studentships (fee waiver) commencing in July or September 2024. Applications are welcomed from both UK and international candidates.These prestigious Research...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON Full time

    Location: Stratford CampusSalary: An annual stipend of £21, , along with a tuition fee waiver and a training bursary of £2,000Post Type: Full TimeClosing Date: Thursday 30 May 2024Reference: PHD004-24University of East London - Research Excellence PhD Studentships The University of East London (UEL) invites applications from highly qualified and motivated...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON Full time

    Location: Stratford CampusSalary: An annual stipend of £21, , along with a tuition fee waiver and a training bursary of £2,000Post Type: Full TimeClosing Date: Thursday 30 May 2024Reference: PHD004-24University of East London - Research Excellence PhD Studentships The University of East London (UEL) invites applications from highly qualified and motivated...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom University of East London Full time

    University of East London - Research Excellence PhD Studentships**Founded in 1898, we at the University of East London (UEL) are proud to change lives through education, research, and knowledge exchange. Our 10-year strategy, Vision 2028 is to advance industry 5.0 careers-first education and provide a clear path to the jobs and opportunities of the future....

  • PhD studentship

    1 week ago


    London, Greater London, United Kingdom University College London (UCL) Full time

    The Departments of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at UCL are inviting applications for studentships in the area of advanced x-ray imaging. These studentships are offered as part of the Advanced X-Ray Imaging Group (AXIm, activities, and in particular in association with Professor SandroOlivo's Royal Academy of...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON Full time

    Location: Docklands CampusSalary: An annual stipend of £21,237, along with a tuition fee waiver and a training bursary of £2,000Post Type: Full TimeClosing Date: Wednesday 01 May 2024Reference: PHD002-24University of East London – Research Excellence PhD Studentships The University of East London (UEL) invites applications from highly qualified and...

  • PhD studentship

    1 week ago


    London, Greater London, United Kingdom University College London (UCL) Full time

    Job Title: Advanced X-Ray Imaging Studentship at UCLCompany: UCL Departments of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical EngineeringVacancy InformationThe Departments of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at UCL are opening applications for studentships in advanced x-ray imaging.Studentships DescriptionJoin...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom UCL Full time

    Key information Lead supervisors: Dr Vikramjeet Singh Application deadline: ongoingProject start date: 01 October 2024Project duration: 3.5 yearsStudentship funding: Full Home/UK tuition fees (currently £6,035/year) and maintenance stipend (currently £20,622/year)PhD project descriptionA 3.5-year PhD Studentship on pharmaceutical formulation, specifically,...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom UCL Full time

    Key information Lead supervisors: Dr Vikramjeet Singh Application deadline: ongoingProject start date: 01 October 2024Project duration: 3.5 yearsStudentship funding: Full Home/UK tuition fees (currently £6,035/year) and maintenance stipend (currently £20,622/year)PhD project descriptionA 3.5-year PhD Studentship on pharmaceutical formulation, specifically,...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom Loughborough University Full time

    Advanced media technologies are transforming production processes within the Creative Industries, leading to new innovations and a range of impacts - for skills, for business models and investment, and for the environment. The CoSTAR Foresight Lab has been established to explore the challenges and opportunities for creative businesses - in particular in...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom UCL Institute of Neurology Full time

    Over the last 10 years, genome wide association studies (GWAS), exome sequencing and short-read genomic sequencing have enabled a revolution in our understanding of the genetic basis of neurodegenerative diseases, their progression and disease pathways. In this period, most of the Mendelian genes for the major neurodegenerative diseases have been described,...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom Imperial College London Full time

    Deadline: Until filledApplications are invited for a Ph.D. studentships at the Brahmal Institute, a new collaborative research centre at Imperial College to enable blue-sky thinking addressing the adverse environmental impacts of aviation. The successful candidate will join a vibrant world-leading research community that is building a sustainable future at...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom Imperial College London Full time

    Deadline: Until filledApplications are invited for a Ph.D. studentships at the Brahmal Institute, a new collaborative research centre at Imperial College to enable blue-sky thinking addressing the adverse environmental impacts of aviation. The successful candidate will join a vibrant world-leading research community that is building a sustainable future at...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom UCL Eastman Dental Institute Full time

    About the role The PhD project is titled, "Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI of the spine" and the student will investigate the impact of dose of physical exercise on the spinal muscles of physically inactive and active individuals understand muscle composition and health. Overarching aim of the PhD: To better understand the impact of dose of...


  • London, Greater London, United Kingdom City, University of London Full time

    This PhD studentship is funded by CERES - Industrial Consortium for Compressors and Expanders in Future Energy Systems, started by The Centre for Compressor Technology.Applications are invited for a PhD studentship in the Department of Engineering. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on Theoretical and experimental investigation of...