PhD Scholarship in the Economics of Science

(ref. BAP-2021-170)

The department of Management, Strategy and Innovation (MSI) of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) is a multidisciplinary research group bundling expertise in the areas of Strategy, Industrial Organization, Political Economy, International Business, Management and Entrepreneurship. Research concerns the organization of institutions, firms, industries and markets in an international context, with a particular focus on innovation and corporate renewal. The department includes faculty members across the three campuses of the FEB located in Leuven, Brussels and Antwerp, and also hosts the expertise centre on R&D monitoring, ECOOM. The department currently has about 25 faculty members, 30 PhD students and 10 postdocs.

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Project

The department of Managerial Economics, Strategy & Innovation (KU Leuven) has a vacancy for one full-time PhD scholarship starting in September 2021, for a period of 4 years.

The researcher to be hired will work in the field of the economics of science and innovation under the supervision of a team consisting of Prof. Stijn Kelchtermans (MSI), Prof. Cindy Lopes Bento (MSI), Prof. Arvids Ziedonis (MSI), prof. Sandra Rousseau (CEDON) and prof. Nick Deschacht (ECON). The research project should lead to a PhD degree in Business Economics.

The project will analyze the composition of scientific teams and the relation with funding success, productivity and the career progress of their members. Methodologically, the emphasis lies on quantitative methods (econometric analysis) guided by theory development. A large database has been collected for the project but needs to be cleaned for analysis. It follows that the candidate is expected to have excellent hands-on data skills or is willing to invest in such skills (in particular in Stata).
He/she will find a dynamic and pleasant working environment, in a group that is actively involved in scientific research at the highest international level. The team is based on the Brussels campus, but the PhD student will participate in department seminars on the Leuven campus as well.
Candidates are expected to participate in seminars and conferences, be internationally mobile and to enroll in (and successfully complete) the PhD program in Business Economics.  
The candidate can be asked to give guidance to Bachelor and Master students, to be involved in teaching activities and to supervise exams.

Profile

Candidates should have a strong interest in quantitative research (applied econometrics) and preferably hold a Master’s degree in Business Engineering (Handelsingenieur) or (Business) Economics. Graduation with honors in preliminary studies is a requirement for entry into the PhD program, as well as an appropriate command of written and spoken English (TOEFL: a minimum score of 575 paper-based, 233 computer-based, 90 internet-based, or IELTS: a minimum score of 7). Experience with data handling and programming/scripting (Stata, R, Python…) is an asset.  Students who are currently in the final year of their Masters are especially encouraged to apply. Having a Research Master degree is considered a plus.

All applicants should check the admission requirements for the doctoral program in Business Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Business here and supply all necessary information (proof of proficiency in English, GRE/GMAT, letter of motivation, transcripts of degrees) with their application. Candidates are encouraged to include a piece of their own research, e.g. an assignment paper or (part of) your Master’s thesis.

Offer

We offer an employment as full-time doctoral scholar for 1 year, renewable up to a maximum of 4 years after positive evaluation.  The tentative starting date is September 20, 2021, depending on the availability of the candidate.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Stijn Kelchtermans, mail: stijn.kelchtermans@kuleuven.be.

You can apply for this job no later than June 30, 2021 via the online application tool

KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.