Supervision
Information on who makes up a doctoral supervisory team and how to find a supervisor.
As one of our doctoral students, you will be supported by a supervisory team. The supervisory team is made up of your Primary Supervisor, your Secondary Supervisor and Postgraduate Research Tutor who offers additional support of a pastoral nature.
The supervisory team
Primary supervisors
Primary supervisors are responsible for the supervision of your thesis and for monitoring your progress towards the completion of the thesis.
Secondary supervisors
Secondary supervisors are responsible for ensuring you complete all the required training and gain the training you need for your future career through the (DDP).
The second supervisor will also provide academic input into the PhD by commenting on your work and advising more generally on progress.
With your agreement and that of your supervisors, the first supervisor may advise you on your DDP
Postgraduate research tutor
In addition to your two named supervisors, you will have access to a personal tutor who is unconnected to the research project and who is available to provide advice and support on pastoral issues when required.
The personal tutor forms part of a wider 'supervisory team', which may also include the Director of the Doctoral Programme, Head of Department and relevant administrative support staff, etc.
These individuals are not expected to take part in your day-to-day supervision, but be available to provide advice and support in certain circumstances, or to deal with issues that have been referred to them.
Fieldwork and supervision
Many of our doctoral students spend time researching and writing their dissertations in the East Asian region. We ensure supervision is maintained by electronic means, by mail and by regular meetings in line with the faculties quality control mechanisms.
The specific format can be designed in terms of your own individual needs: some visits to the UK will be required, but it is just as likely that fieldwork in the region will mean that your supervisor will be able to meet you in East Asia.
Find a supervisor
The School is interested in applications from all students with an interest in:
Politics, Economy and International Relations of East Asia
Critical Ethnography in East Asia
Media, Text and Sound in East Asia
History and Heritage in East Asia
The list below is designed to give a sense of the particular areas of interest and expertise individuals within the School have. It is an overview only and is not exhaustive. You may find supervisors listed under more than one cluster, as their research can be considered under more than one topic. The list is just to give you an idea of which supervisors may fit your area of research interest.
If you think that our research activities would fit well with your own interests then please contact us to discuss your options. If you are interested in pursuing a PhD with us, please find out more about applying here
Politics, Economy and International Relations of East Asia
Professor Hugo Dobson: Japan; International relations; Global governance; Politics
Dr Yu Chen: China; Urbanisation; Migration; Labour market development; Housing
Dr Sarah Son: North and South Korea, international relations, identity, nationalism, peace-building, human rights, migration, multiculturalism, contemporary politics and society of North and South Korea, discourse analysis
Dr Zhong Zhang: Chinese corporate governance; Chinese economy and business; Chinese (business) law; the rule of law, law and finance, law and economic development in China.
Dr Peter Matanle: Japan; Social and cultural geography of East Asian development; Demography and Environment; Sociology/Geography of Work and Employment (currently unable to take on students for 2024/25 intake)
Dr Christina Maags: political economy, multi-level governance and local policy implementation in the People’s Republic of China, particularly in the field of ageing and heritage.
Dr Saori Shibata: Japan’s political economy, including the changing nature of work, the digital economy and how Japan’s model of capitalism is transforming
Dr Fumihito Gotoh: Japanese and East Asian politics, International Political Economics, Comparative capitalisms (particularly between Anglo-American countries, Japan and China), Globalization and resistance, Politics of finance and technology, Credit markets and credit rating agencies
Dr David Tobin: uses discourse analysis and ethnographic methods to explore the relationship between identity and security in global politics, specialising in contemporary China and Uyghurs.
Sustainable East Asia
Dr Yu Chen: China; Urbanisation; Migration; Labour market development; Housing
Dr Peter Matanle: Japan; Social and cultural geography of East Asian development; Demography and Environment; Sociology/Geography of Work and Employment
Dr Jamie Coates: cultural anthropology of China and Japan, literary, film and media studies, geography, history, psychology, sociology and international relations, mobility studies, heritage studies.
Gender Research Cluster
Professor Jennifer Coates: Japan, media, gender, ethnography and film studies
Dr Sarah Son: North and South Korea, international relations, identity, nationalism, peace-building, human rights, migration, multiculturalism, contemporary politics and society of North and South Korea, discourse analysis
Dr Saori Shibata: Japan’s political economy, including the changing nature of work, the digital economy and how Japan’s model of capitalism is transforming
Professor Kate Taylor-Jones: film studies, history, gender and sexuality studies, media studies, visual culture and critical theory. PhD by Practice
Dr Mark Pendleton: modern and contemporary East Asian history, cultural studies, gender and sexuality studies (primarily Japan)
Critical Ethnography in East Asia
Dr Jamie Coates: cultural anthropology of China and Japan, literary, film and media studies, geography, history, psychology, sociology and international relations, mobility studies, heritage studies.
Professor Jennifer Coates: Japan, media, gender, ethnography and film studies
Dr Mike Prentice: organisations, work, labour, digital platforms, South Korea, language, sociolinguistics, communication, genre
Dr David Tobin: uses discourse analysis and ethnographic methods to explore the relationship between identity and security in global politics, specialising in contemporary China and Uyghurs.
Media, Text and Sound in East Asia
Dr Mark Pendleton: modern and contemporary East Asian history, cultural studies, gender and sexuality studies (primarily Japan)
Dr Jamie Coates: cultural anthropology of China and Japan, literary, film and media studies, geography, history, psychology, sociology and international relations, mobility studies, heritage studies.
Professor Kate Taylor-Jones: film studies, history, gender and sexuality studies, media studies, visual culture and critical theory; PhD by practice.
Professor Jennifer Coates: Japan, media, gender, ethnography and film studies