Ph.D. student with interests in quantitative methodological aspects of data science or business, econometrics, or methodological aspects in humanities, psychology, law and similar.

The research entails a Ministry of Defense (MOD) funded research project “Validation of Data Science Procedures”. The aim of the research is to develop auditing, validation, verification, and testing procedures to ensure that data driven applications adhere to the constraints imposed by the application context, in particular military contexts. This dictates, depending on the application area, legal, operational and ethical constraints such as accountability, transparency, explainability, fairness, (prevention of) unbiasedness, performance and other relevant parameters.  All these constraints need to be met by the data science procedures before they can be deployed. Furthermore, once the procedure/application is deployed it needs to be monitored and audited to ensure proper working and meet the requirements throughout the deployment life cycle. Examples of applications are within border security and policing, profiling, targeting, and command and control decisions.

Part of the research will be done in cooperation with the Netherlands Defense Academy and various entities within the MOD. The Ph.D. student will be based at the Department of Accounting and Information Management. The majority of research in the department can be classified as economics-based, quantitative empirical research, and experimental research.

Candidates will be judged on the basis of the requirements outlined below. To be considered, candidates should make sure that their application letter demonstrates how they meet these requirements: 

• Successful completion of a Master degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Economics or Psychology. A research master would be an advantage.
• Skills in quantitative analysis.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Able to work with highly sensitive, secure data

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

• Salary scale: PhD (Dutch University Salary Scales)
• Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
• Duration of the contract: 4 years
• Maximum hours per week: 38
• Additional duties: restricted involvement as a teacher in tutorials
• Signing of a non-disclosure agreement

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information please visit the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl, 

Maastricht University School of Business and Economics - Accounting & Information Management

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 18,000 students and 4,400 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience. For more information, please visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl.

The School of Business and Economics (abbreviated as SBE) is a high-level European school in the fields of Economics and International Business Administration and is accredited by both the AACSB and EQUIS. The school is located in the heart of Maastricht.

The key characteristics of SBE are small-scale teaching methods, a portfolio of international study programs, and strong incentives for top-quality research. SBE attracts outstanding students from over 60 countries on its MBA, Bachelor, Masters, Ph.D., and executive education programs (all in English). Forty percent of the student population and thirty-five percent of the academic faculty come from outside The Netherlands.

Accounting & Information Management

The Department of Accounting & Information Management of the School of Business and Economics is committed to high quality research and education and provides a stimulating working environment. Research at the Department of Accounting and Information Management is consistently ranked as one of the best in its field in Europe. Faculty members publish in leading journals and the Department continues to benefit from the presence of distinguished visitors.

The research interests of faculty members can be consulted on our website (https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/department-accounting-and-information-management-aim).