Doctoral student in Transformative innovation – with focus on digitalisation for sustianable development

Description of work place

The doctoral position is located the dept. of Design Sciences, Faculty of engineering, Lund University. Design Sciences is an interdisciplinary department that integrates design, technology and people in its research and education. The advertised position is within the Sparbanken Skåne’s Center for Sustainable Enterprising (SSCEN) and financed by the Management and IT research school (MIT) and the Kamprad Family Foundation. You will be part of the centre's interdisciplinary research environment consisting of five PhD students together with postdocs and senior researchers from the School of Economics and the Faculty of Engineering. You will also be part of the national research school MIT and expected to participate in their activities. You are also expected to actively contribute to the research within the interdisciplinary centre, both in collaboration with others and individually.

Transformative innovation

The subject of transformative innovation aims to understand, explain and improve operations with a focus on the development and adaptation of new and existing solutions (eg systems, goods and/or services) as well as new or changed processes (eg technical, organizational and business) to create value for individuals, groups, companies and other organizations as well as society. The research addresses human, organizational, process and technical aspects such as user-centered design, technology and business development, development methodology, integration and collaboration, industrialization and sustainable development.

Subject description

In order to meet climate, biodiversity and other sustainability goals, there must be a rapid development and adjustment in the business sector over the next 5-10 years, and there must be a policy that promotes this. This means changes in consumption and production, increased resource efficiency and circularity, as well as new industry links, value chains and business models. In the newly formed research center Sparbanken Skåne's Center for Sustainable Entrprising (SSCEN), we will build knowledge and deal with these challenges. 

A key to the transition is digitization and the use of various digital tools and artificial intelligence. Based on reliable data from companies/organizations, evaluations can be carried out, new algorithms developed and applications and solutions for sustainable business operations developed. However, this development is still in its infancy and significant research is needed in applying digital technology and evaluating its actual value to participating companies, supply chains and society at large.

Work duties

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties will also teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

For this position, we are looking for a doctoral student who can develop, apply and evaluate digital tools (such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, cloud computing) with the aim of speeding up the transition of business to sustainable development. Areas of application relate to sustainable and circular business arrangements based on both a producer and consumer perspective and include close collaboration with participating actors. The focus is thus not on the digital technology itself, but on its application, usefulness and wider effects.

You, together with researchers within SSCEN, will contribute with complementary competencies related to strategy, sustainable and circular supply chains, digitization, regional and industrial policy development, entrepreneurship and financing/accounting. 

Admission requirements 

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

• 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 transformative innovation if the applicant has: 

• at least 50 credits within the subject areas for the third-cycle programme including at least 25 second-cycle credits of relevance to the subject areas, or
• an artistic higher education diploma, Degree of Master of Science in Engineering, Degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics, Masters’ degree (120 credits) or Master’s degree (60 credits) of relevance to the subject areas.

Finally, the student must be judged to have the potential to complete the programme.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Good knowledge about business models
• Good knowledge about development and/or application of digital tools and concepts
• Good knowledge about sustainable development

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 the following: 

• 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 third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.
   

Other assessment criteria:

• Oral and written proficiency in Swedish, since parts of the empirical work will be done where Swedish is the dominating language.
• Knowledge in research methods
• Workrelated experiences related to the area of the project description
   

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Furthermore, you will be trained in a strong research environment that will enable great career opportunities in both academia and industry.

Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University. 

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 §§.

How to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also be accompanied by a Research Plan comprising a maximum of 5 pages, containing a proposal for the design and implementation of a research project within the above project description. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Welcome to apply!