PhD in Evaluating the Influence of Tangible 3D Printed Replicas on the Museum Experience

Project overview

The University of Warwick, and Oxford University Museum of Natural History, are pleased to announce the availability of a fully-funded four-year (full-time) doctoral grant under the AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Scheme.

The project seeks to leverage user experience methods from industry to explore the use of tangible 3D printed replicas within museums. The main aims of the project are to understand how such replicas affect the museum experience and how they influence both the interpretation and behaviour of visitors.

This project will be jointly supervised by researchers in WMG at the University of Warwick and Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the doctoral researcher will be expected to spend time in both institutions, as well as becoming part of the wider cohort of CDP-funded doctoral students across the UK.

The studentship will focus on the impact of tangible 3D printed replicas, models produced via the process of additive manufacturing, on the museum experience of visitors. The primary purpose of this is to investigate the feasibility of employing such replicas in museums and how visitors interact with and learn from such objects.

A number of articles on the subject have been published regarding the effectiveness of tangible 3D printed replicas, with little consensus emerging to date. One issue is that studies into this method of interpretation have often used small sample sizes and inconsistent methods, making it difficult to generalise their findings. The novelty of this project will be in the application of user experience (UX) techniques from industry, building a holistic view of the research problem using a number of cutting-edge, data-rich methods.

The student will employ a range of rigorous methodologies, including Content Analysis, Factor Analysis and other statistical methodologies, whilst ensuring that the methods employed are suitable for the task, reliable and valid. A range of statistical approaches will be combined with well-documented qualitative research approaches to provide a holistic view of how visitors interact with, and learn from, tangible 3D printed replicas. This will use and build on previous research efforts within the WMG–OUMNH group to attempt to answer this research problem.

The outcomes of the project will be a completed thesis project, which will in turn have a number of peer-reviewed publications published over the course of the project. These research articles will help to inform practice in the wider community in relation to employing tangible 3D printed replicas within exhibition galleries, and will provide the student with a good foot-hold within academia. The student will also be encouraged to attend conferences and to network at academic events across the UK and internationally, developing key contacts within the museum sector and disseminating findings.

Research questions Include:

How do tangible 3D printed replicas shape the museum experience?
What impact do tangible 3D printed replicas have on the interpretation of exhibition content?
How can museums best use tangible 3D printed replicas to support existing display techniques?
How can museums best measure the impact of tangible 3D printed replicas on the museum experience?
How does the inclusion of such replicas affect the behaviour of visitors both in-gallery and around the museum?

Essential and Desirable criteria

We are looking for an excellent, highly promising and appropriately qualified student who will embrace the opportunity to bring together academic research in museum studies with experience and training in a leading UK cultural organisation.
Applicants should ideally have, or expect to receive, a relevant Masters-level qualification of Merit grade or higher or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience in a professional setting. Suitable disciplinary backgrounds are flexible, but might include archaeology, anthropology, geology, palaeobiology, history, heritage studies, natural history, history and philosophy of science, museum studies, archive and information studies, geography, or cultural studies.
AHRC also recognises that research students approach a doctorate from various different routes, and that not all research students complete a research preparation Master’s-level degree first. Doctoral applicants who have not completed a research preparation Master’s-level degree are therefore eligible to apply for AHRC funding providing they can demonstrate that they have equivalent experience that has prepared them for doctoral research and provided that their HEI allows it.^[1] Equivalent experience might include experience working within a public engagement role or any other role within in a cultural heritage institution for several years.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate an interest in the museum sector and potential and enthusiasm for developing skills more widely in related areas. Candidates showing some effort in outlining how they would go about answering the research questions would be favoured.
As a collaborative award, students will be expected to spend time at both the University and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
We would especially encourage people from UK Black and minority ethnic backgrounds to apply for this studentship and we will guarantee an interview to all applicants from UK Black and minority ethnic backgrounds who meet the essential eligibility criteria under the positive action methods outlined in the Equality Act 2010.

Funding and Eligibility

Any prospective doctoral student wishing to study at a UK research organisation, including prospective international students, can apply for a UKRI studentship. All UKRI-funded doctoral students will be eligible for the full award - both the stipend to support living costs, and fees at the UK research organisation rate. However, international student will be requires to contribute the difference between the Home and International fees. All candidates must meet the eligibility criteria for the UKRI studentships. (https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/before-you-apply/your-responsibilities-if-you-get-funding/meeting-ukri-terms-and-conditions-for-funding)

Studentships funded under the third Collaborative Doctoral Partnership call (CDP3) will receive four years of funding. The four-year duration is to enable students to undertake development activities as part of their doctoral study. Three years and six to nine months is for the doctoral research (42-45 months); three to six months is for professional development opportunities (‘Student Development Activity’). If preferred, up to 3 months of funding may be used to pay for the costs the student might incur in taking up professional development opportunities, this would reduce the total funded duration by the equivalent up to three months.

The award pays tuition fees up to the value of the full-time UKRI rate for PhD degrees. Research Councils UK Indicative Fee Level for 2023/24 is £4,596.

The award also pays full maintenance for all students. The National Minimum Doctoral Stipend for 2024/25 is £19,237

Further details can be found on the UKRI website: https://www.ukri.org/skills/funding-for-research-training

The student is also eligible to receive an additional travel and related expenses grant from OUMNH during the course of the project worth up to £2,000 per year for the four years.

The project can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis.

NB. All applicants must meet the AHRC’s academic criteria and residency requirements. See:

https://www.ukri.org/funding/information-for-award-holders/grant-terms-and-conditions

To apply

To apply please complete our online enquiry form and upload your CV, transcripts and certificates of previous studies to allow us to assess your suitability for this specific PhD.

Please ensure you meet the minimum requirements before filling in the online form.

Key Information

Funding Source: AHRC

Stipend: £19,237

Supporting company: Oxford University of Natural History (MNH)

Supervisors:

Prof. Mark Williams

Dr. Paul Wilson

Prof. M Paul Smith

Mrs. Janet Stott

Available to Home fee status

Start date: Ongoing