PhD Position on Dynamics of Inter-Organizational Networks for Standardization

Job Description

The Section of Economics of Technology and Innovation at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, is opening a 4-year, fully funded Ph.D. position on the topic “Dynamics of inter-organizational networks for standardization”.

Our society is faced with grand challenges such as climate change, energy scarcity, and a housing crisis. One way to solve these challenges is to develop and commercialize innovative technologies such as smart grids and cheaper houses. However, to accomplish that, coordination between actors and components of systems is required. One way to achieve that is through standardization. Then, dominant standards and designs can be realized that have the potential to solve the major problems. Are you interested in studying the networking strategies that firms can apply in order to set dominant standards and designs?

You, as a successful applicant, will develop state-of-the-art skills in research by studying the influence of the dynamics of the composition and structure of inter-organizational networks of actors that support standards and designs on their dominance. Empirical analyses that combine quantitative research techniques (social network analysis, statistical analysis) and qualitative research techniques (secondary data analysis, process analysis) will be used. You will present the results of your research in a Ph.D. dissertation, to be completed within four years. A small teaching load is part of the job which will be spent on developing and teaching in a new master specialization course on the topic of the dissertation research.

Job Requirements

Potential PhD candidates are expected to have:

• A (Research) Master’s degree in innovation/technology management or an adjacent field of management or engineering.
• Affinity with both quantitative and qualitative research as demonstrated by experience with relevant software (such as Stata, R, Python, Atlas.ti, or similar programs) or the willingness to further develop yourself in both research approaches.
• Excellent study results.
• Strong and explicit interest and motivation for scientific research in the subject matter.
• An excellent command of spoken and written English.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Technology, Policy & Management

The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.