Utrecht University is offering a 4-year PhD position on the institutional design of processes for public procurement for sustainability and innovation.

You will investigate a number of instruments for use by contracting authorities to foster inclusive economic growth, including those relating to the supplier (e.g., intermediation and market consultation) and those for internal decision-making (e.g., value cases and voluntary standards). Your research will be primarily empirical in nature and create strong contributions to emerging theory in public procurement of innovation and sustainability.

The project is part of DemoTrans: The Interchange Between Democratic Institutions and the Globalisation of the Economy, a four-year, €2.74M Research and Innovation Action under Horizon Europe. DemoTrans is comprised of an interdisciplinary consortium from six leading research groups across four European research universities. You will work along other PhD candidates, including with those at the Utrecht University Centre for Public Procurement.

This project will give you opportunities to amplify the impact of your work by reaching a broader audience of procurement practitioners and policy-makers. You’ll capture your research highlights in a practical guidance document and video, draft policy briefs on your publications, and submit these directly to the European Commission. Travel funding will allow you to go abroad to participate in project activities such as project meetings and conferences, including for the dissemination of interim findings.

The PhD candidate will be part of the Innovation Studies group of the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University, and supervised by Dr. Anne Rainville, Dr. Matthijs Janssen and Prof. Dr. Koen Frenken.

You are a highly motivated candidate with a MSc degree in innovation studies, science and technology studies, economics, public administration, organization studies, geography, or a related discipline. We are looking for candidates who:

• (are interested to) know about theories of public procurement for innovation and sustainability;
• have an interest in intermediation, market consultation, and standardization;
• are capable of framing your research in wider contexts of current societal challenges;
• can produce high-quality practical deliverables that appeal to a wide audience;
• are open to inter- and trans-disciplinary research;
• are familiar with social science methods;
• are proficient in English;
• have excellent scientific writing and planning skills.

The project can start by 1 January 2023, or sooner if possible for the candidate.

You will be offered a temporary position (1.0 FTE), initially for one year with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period. The gross salary ranges between €2,541 in the first year and €3,247 in the fourth year of employment (scale P according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year. 
In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.
Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth's core to its surface, including man's spatial and material utilisation of the Earth - always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.