Newcastle University’s Institute for Agri-Food Research is sponsoring a social science studentship linked to the UK’s Centre for the Evaluation of Complexity Across the Nexus (CECAN). This studentship will contribute to CECAN objectives by exploring how policy evaluation has been accessed, used and informed by external stakeholders and wider publics.  The successful PhD student will consider stakeholder involvement in nexus policy evaluation including its framing, conduct and utilisation.  Their research will build on existing work reflecting on the nature of expertise, open policy making and debates around impact and evidence-based policy, and will consider issues such as: whose expertise counts within policy evaluation and how is stakeholder involvement managed; to what extent does it enhance the quality of the policy evaluation undertaken and what happens when stakeholders use evaluations to challenge government.  The studentship will consider stakeholder engagement in evaluation in chosen policy areas linked to IAFRI objectives on sustainable land use, agri-food production, plant health and food safety. The student will work within the Centre for Rural Economy.  The studentship will start on 1 October 2016 and applications should be made by 1 September 2016.  For further information and details of how to apply please see the Newcastle University website.