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The Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation was established in 2006 by Jan Moyes, in memory of Christopher Moyes who died in 2006. Christopher was a founder of the Go-Ahead transport group, chair of Durham University council, deputy lieutenant of the County of Durham and a great family man. Chris was widely respected as a quiet, effective leader who believed in making a difference.

Funding 

The Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation was formally established in November 2009 to celebrate Chris’ memory by providing funding for projects that reflect his long standing commitment to County Durham, Durham University and, in particular, the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience. To this end, the Foundation has committed to funding postgraduate students at the Institute. Students are, in the main, from the global south and so far have worked on subjects as varied as the vulnerability of the people of Bangladesh to flooding, the health hazards of volcanic ash and the eradication of malaria working with a Tanzanian health institute. The Foundation is administrated by three trustees and chaired by Jan Moyes, Chris’s widow. The Foundation is a charity, registered in the United Kingdom.

Christopher Moyes: Biography 

Christopher Moyes

Chris Moyes, OBE (1949 - 2006), was a founder of Go Ahead Group, one of the UK’s largest transport businesses. Born in Shropshire and educated at Liverpool and Salford Universities, Chris joined the National Bus Company in 1971 as a management trainee. After privatization of the company in 1987 he founded the Go Ahead Group, becoming Deputy Chief Executive in 1999 and Chief Executive in 2004. Chris settled in Durham in the late eighties with his wife Jan and three daughters, Charlotte, Caroline and Elizabeth. Chris was heavily involved with the local community, as a deputy Lieutenant of County Durham and, later, Chairman of the Council of Durham University in 2001.

Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation Studentship: call for applications

Applications are invited for the Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation Studentship to support a suitably qualified postgraduate student for a three-year PhD research programme in Geography at Durham University, UK. The Studentship is to support research of high academic quality that helps to build resilience to hazards and risks challenging human societies, particularly in the global south. This research can focus on the physical or social aspects of the resilience building.

One Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation Studentship is available, starting in the academic year 2022-23, funded by the Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation (http://www.moyesfoundation.org). The Foundation was established in memory of Mr Christopher Moyes, OBE.

Applicants must possess a First or Upper Second-Class degree or equivalent in a relevant field of study. Applications will be considered from both UK and overseas students. Applicants must demonstrate outstanding potential to undertake research at the highest level. They should also demonstrate the capacity and motivation to conduct research with a strong potential to make a difference in society, especially for relatively low-income populations in the Global South, following the aims of the Christopher Moyes Memorial Foundation.

The successful candidate will register for a full-time PhD in the Geography Department at Durham University. The 3-year Studentship covers Durham University tuition fees, a maintenance stipend to cover living costs and a college's middle common room (Postgraduate) membership fees. The Studentship will also include a separate element for costs of work in the field or laboratory work.

To apply for the Studentship please complete an application form and provide the following supporting documents:

  • Cover Letter
  • Application form (from link below)
  • CV detailing your academic career and qualifications to date
  • Copies of Undergraduate/Postgraduate Degree Certificates and Transcripts
  • If you are not a UK Citizen, please provide evidence of proficiency in English - IELTS/TOEFL etc (if applicable)
  • 2 academic references. Please not that it the applicant’s responsibility to request and obtain letters of reference.  Alternatively, please ask your referees to send them directly to Kathy Wood at [email protected]

The application form can be found here:

CMMF application form

Applicants must follow the application procedures in full to be considered. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview conducted using video conferencing. The closing date for applications is Friday 24th June 2022.

Further general information about postgraduate study at Durham University is available from http://www.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate/ and information for Postgraduate Students in the Department of Geography can be found at:

https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/geography/postgraduate-study/.

For any other queries:

[email protected]