Call for Applications: 2 PhD Scholarships on China’s Science Silk Road and the Geopolitics of Knowledge – Global South Opportunities

Université Laval’s Department of Political Science, in partnership with the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) in Berlin, is inviting applications for two prestigious PhD scholarships funded by the Volkswagen Foundation. Starting in September 2026, these fully funded positions will provide early-career researchers with the opportunity to investigate one of the most significant developments in contemporary global science policy: China’s “Science Silk Road.”
As part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has launched the Science Silk Road, an ambitious program designed to expand investment in science, technology, and innovation across partner countries. This initiative is more than a simple funding mechanism; it represents a reconfiguration of global scientific cooperation. Observers have suggested that China may be exporting a distinctive model of “Chinese science,” potentially shaping alternative structures in the global science system. Yet, much remains unknown about the extent to which the Science Silk Road is reshaping research practices, influencing knowledge production, and redefining the governance of science both within BRI countries and internationally.
The PhD scholarships will support students in exploring these crucial questions through an interdisciplinary, multi-level research project. Particular attention will be given to issues related to the environment and space, two domains where the intersection of science, policy, and geopolitics is particularly evident.
Funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, the project is one of the first in-depth analyses of the Science Silk Road. It will examine its components, assess its impacts on scientific knowledge production in BRI countries, and explore implications for established scientific powers and global alliances. The research will engage with international relations, the sociology of science, science and technology studies (STS), anthropology, and geography to generate new theoretical and policy insights.
By situating the Science Silk Road within the broader debates about science diplomacy and global governance, the project seeks to shed light on how scientific cooperation shapes international relations in the 21st century.
Successful candidates will be co-supervised by Professor Hang Zhou and Professor Jean-Frédéric Morin at Université Laval, with additional mentorship from Professor Han Cheng and Professor Anna Lisa Ahlers at MPIWG. A graduate advisory committee will guide the students in developing their plan of work, including coursework, fieldwork, and dissertation research.
While based in the Department of Political Science at Université Laval, students will also be affiliated with the Graduate School of International Studies and the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research on Global Governance (CIRGoM). They will spend time at MPIWG’s Lise Meitner Research Group China in the Global System of Science in Berlin and will have the opportunity to attend the University of Oslo’s PhD course China and the Future of Geopolitics. Dedicated funds will support fieldwork, training, and conference participation, ensuring a rich academic and professional experience.
Each scholarship covers full tuition fees and provides a highly competitive stipend valued at approximately C$40,000 per year for four years, subject to satisfactory progress. Additional funds are available for research, travel, and professional development. Students will also benefit from dedicated workspace and access to vibrant research networks in Quebec City, Berlin, and beyond.
Candidates of all nationalities are welcome to apply. Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain 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 a related discipline.
Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in topics such as science diplomacy, science policy, STS, science and society, global governance of science, or international scientific cooperation. Familiarity with the Belt and Road Initiative or Global China Studies is an advantage, but not a requirement.
Students may choose to focus their research at either the global or regional level. A global focus will require proficiency in mixed methods, including case studies, interviews, surveys, or data analysis. A regional focus should emphasize qualitative methods, ideally with experience in ethnographic fieldwork in Africa or Latin America. Fluency in English or French is required, with at least working knowledge of the other.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit the following documents by email to Professor Han Cheng at [email protected]:
Shortlisted candidates will later be required to complete a formal application through Université Laval’s admissions system. Further details about the PhD program in political science can be found on Université Laval’s website.
Deadline for Applications: November 14, 2025
A Unique Opportunity in Global Science Studies
These scholarships offer a rare chance for doctoral students to contribute to pioneering research at the intersection of science, policy, and geopolitics. By joining this project, successful candidates will become part of an international team exploring how China’s Science Silk Road is transforming the global landscape of knowledge production.
Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the awarding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the scholarship organisation directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.

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