Doctoral student in circular business model innovation - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) is an international and interdisciplinary centre of excellence at Lund University. We advance knowledge on how to catalyse the transition to low-carbon and resource efficient economies across different levels of governance and management. We conduct research across the themes of international and national policy intervention, urban governance and experimentation, business management and practice, and consumption governance.

The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) at Lund University announces an opening for a position as a doctoral student.

Subject description

The research area focuses on the operationalization of circular business models and strategies in Swedish manufacturing companies. A key task within this is develop principles, methods and guidelines that provide design support to manufacturing companies in designing circular business models. A design support is a measure that aims to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of design activities pertaining to the enhancement of business models, products and services. Design support can inform who, what, when and how to make decisions towards a specific goal.

The research will contribute to the objectives on an on-going project Resource Efficient and Effective Solutions (REES 2) funded by MISTRA (The Swedish foundation for strategic environmental research / Stiftelsen för miljöstrategisk forskning). Project activities within this research position address how design supports for business model and product innovation can be used by Swedish manufacturers. Developing resource-efficient and effective solutions involves a variety of actors, especially those engaged in design and manufacturing activities. The project aims to deliver better understanding of how organizational changes can be managed to introduce effective design supports and how the knowledge and skills of organizations and individual designers can be enhanced by design supports. The research will be based on a number of case studies performed in active cooperation with industrial partners, researchers at IIIEE, and researchers at other universities.

Work duties

It is anticipated that the PhD research area will employ an action research approach that works with cases in partner organisations. The PhD candidate will study how internal organisational parameters (e.g. organizational structure, strategic vision, and internal capacities) can be developed to navigate structural and market barriers to the reconfiguration of product/service designs and business models to achieve resource-efficient and effective solutions. This requires understanding of existing internal organizational capacities via analysis of gaps, weaknesses and opportunities in relation to the needs of resourceefficient and effective solutions. It is anticipated that a range of methods can be used for data collection and analysis; inter alia: participant observation, focus groups, interviews and workshops.

This PhD position will be located at the IIIEE, Lund University, and will contribute to an on-going project Resource REES 2 funded by MISTRA (2019-2023). The project is led by Linköping University (LiU) in collaboration with IIIEE, Lund University, Chalmers University and several Swedish manufacturing companies. The aim is to apply circular economy-based thinking within Swedish manufacturing industries in a way that that facilitates their leadership in sustainability, improves competitiveness, and reduces business risk. The project builds on a preceding project MISTRA REES 1 (2016-2019). The current project phase aims to move from ideas to action with manufacturing industry actors and operationalize circular solutions.
The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies, which includes participation in research projects and third cycle courses. This position requires regular publication of peer reviewed and popular science articles, industry briefs, and the participation in, and contributions to, conferences. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (maximum 20%).

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in subject area circular business model innovation, if he or she has:

• a Master’s degree in a relevant, preferably multi-disciplinary, field (such as sustainable business management, organisation studies, circular economy, or innovation studies).

Additional requirements:

• excellent oral and written proficiency in English,
• experience working with organisational case studies and knowledge of circular economy principles,
• familiarity with subject areas such as business model design, organisational management and operationalization of business strategies.

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle.
Special attention is paid to:

• knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study;
• an assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems;
• written and oral communication skills;
• other experience relevant to the doctoral position such as work experience.

Other assessment criteria:

• consideration will also be given to experience of work with organisational case studies;
• oral and written proficiency in Swedish, and
• evidence of the ability to work collaboratively.

Terms of employment

Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include:

• a CV and a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and how the research project corresponds to applicant’s interests and educational background;
• degree certificate or equivalent;
• other documents you wish to be considered (e.g. grade transcripts, letters of recommendation, and contact information for your references);
• list of previous publications (if applicable);
• An outline of a research design corresponding to the project description above and related to the research conducted at IIIEE (max 3 pages);
• Relevant thesis must be attached (master’s thesis and/or bachelor’s thesis)