Are you our next PhD student who wants to conduct qualitative and quantitative research on data-driven business models for connected products, then Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam would like to get to know you.

The PhD student can rely on intensive supervision and training offered by the leading researchers in the KIN Center for Digital Innovation and will follow the 3-4 year PhD program of the Amsterdam Business Research Institute (ABRI). The Faculty offers opportunities to attend conferences, to meet other international researchers, and to participate in high-quality discussion groups in support of writing papers for publication. Many of KIN’s PhD students spend some time abroad during their trajectory. The prospects for the Faculty's doctoral graduates on the labor market are excellent, both inside and outside the academic world.

Your duties
The PhD student will conduct qualitative, and possibly quantitative research and interventions, on the following themes:
• development processes of data-driven value propositions and business models;
• value creation and appropriation processes in ecosystems consisting in heterogeneous actors;
• collaboration processes in ecosystems around connected products.

Candidates who would like to apply should meet the following requirements:
• motivated to do high quality scientific research;
• ability to combine creative and analytical thinking;
• ability to collaborate in groups as well as carry out work individually;
• demonstrable flexibility and strong communication skills required to collaborate with industrial partner(s) and perform research as an embedded researcher in a field setting;
• affinity with innovation and technology management;
• proficient in written and spoken English, preferably also proficient in Dutch;
• academic writing skills;
• MSc/ MPhil / Research master or an equivalent program (e.g., Junior Researcher Program) in Economics, Business Administration, Innovation Management, Technology & Management, Operations Research, Sociology, Industrial Design, or a related discipline; or a regular master in one of these disciplines with excellent research skills;
• excellent grades;
• expertise in and affinity with qualitative research methods.

The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts €2,266 gross per month during the first year and increases to €2,897 gross per month during the fourth year, based on a full-time employment.
The appointment will initially be for one year. After satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a total duration of 4 years.

Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:
• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• considerable employer’s contribution to the ABP pension scheme
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

http://www.vu.nl/en/index.asp

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a leading, innovative and growing university that is at the heart of society and contributes actively to new developments in teaching and research. Our university has ten faculties which span a wide range of disciplines, as well as several institutes, foundations, research centers, and support services.

Its campus is located in the fastest-growing economic region in the Netherlands (the Zuidas district of Amsterdam), and provides work for over 4,500 staff and scientific education for more than 23,000 students.

Diversity is a core value of the VU. We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalization contribute to the quality of education and research. We are therefore constantly looking for people who contribute to the diversity of our campus through their background and experience.

The School of Business and Economics (SBE) provides high-quality education and excellent research in business administration and economics with a focus on contributing to the social, economic and ecological challenges of our time. Whether it is the use of robots in society or big data, labour market participation or flexibility in the labour market, traffic jams or the housing market, flash crashes in the stock market or choice behaviour in gambling, leadership or change management: we believe in goal-oriented scientific research and understand that progress in academics, the business community and society is achieved through cooperation, openness and social responsibility.

At SBE, all of our highly-motivated colleagues work together closely in a stimulating, dynamic and international environment to achieve our collective goal of encouraging society to make informed choices. Approximately 4,200 Bachelor’s and Master’s students and 1,700 executive students are enrolled at the School, and employs roughly 500 people.