Doctoral Candidate in Business Administration

The Örebro University School of Business is currently looking for an early stage researcher in Business Administration to be part of the research team at Center for Sustainable Business (CSB) and, more precise, its sub-division for value chain studies. For the successful candidate, the programme will conclude with the award of the Degree of Doctor. The position starts preferably in the fall of 2020.

At CSB Value Chain, studies are often based on the interaction between different actors in the value chains, and the business relationships and networks that this gives rise to. Many of the research questions being studied are developed in collaboration with goods owners, logistics operators and freight forwarders, etc. In this case, we seek a candidate who is expected to focus on digitization and electrification of transport systems, and particularly the sustainability aspect. Within this framework, there are plenty of opportunities for the candidate to decide direction. Possible specializations are, for instance, business models for electrified roads, high-capacity transport systems, intermodal transports, AI and autonomous systems, or various combinations thereof.

Most of the research at CSB Value Chain is done through qualitative case studies, and sometimes in combination with agent-based modelling (ABM). Experience and interest in these methods are valued, but not required. Regardless of method and specialization, the candidate is expected to take an analytical approach and responsibility to advance the research project. In addition, the candidate is expected to have social skills to collaborate with industry partners and to be able to quickly grasp their issues.

Online information
Information on admission to the doctoral programme, application form, the general syllabus for the subject, the Regulations Handbook, and other information can be found on Örebro University’s webpage for research student information: www.oru.se. You can find information about "How to apply for admission to doctoral studies" below.

For more information on the programme and the post, please contact Frans Prenkert, frans.prenkert@oru.se or Johan Kask, johan.kask@oru.se.

The programme
The successful candidate is offered a place on the research study programme concluding with the Degree of Doctor. The programme comprises 240 credits, which corresponds to four years of full-time study. Extensions to the study period are granted for instance to compensate for any sick leave and parental leave.

Information on programme content and organisation can be found in the general syllabus for the subject.

Doctoral studentships
The position is offered as a full-time doctoral studentship for the duration of the study programme. Duties such as teaching, administration and research other than the student’s own thesis project may be included, however with no more than 20 per cent of a full-time post. To compensate for time spent on such duties, extensions to the programme length and funding period will be granted. More information on doctoral studentships, part-time studies and part-time doctoral studentships can be found in the Regulations Handbook. The initial salary for a doctoral studentship is SEK 26,900 (approx. €2,500) per month.

Entry requirements and selection
For admission to research studies, applicants are required to meet general and specific entry requirements. In addition, they shall be considered in other respects to have the ability required to benefit from the programme. For a full account of the entry requirements, refer to the admissions regulations as well as to annex 2 to the general syllabus for the subject.

Applicants meet the general entry requirements for research studies if they


• have been awarded a qualification at the Master’s level, or
• have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits (four years) of which at least 60 credits (one year) were awarded at the Master’s level, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Applicants with credits or qualifications from undergraduate programmes under the previous Swedish higher education system corresponding to these entry requirements are also eligible. The university may permit exemptions from the entry requirements for individual applicants, if there are special grounds.

For applicants to meet the specific entry requirements for research studies in the subject, the following applies: A person meets the specific entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes in the subject if he or she has received a passing grade in courses of at least 120 credits, including an independent project at the advanced course level or on the second cycle, in business administration alternatively in a relevant subject area.

Applicants who have acquired substantially corresponding knowledge, in Sweden or abroad, also meet the specific entry requirements. Applicants with credits or qualifications from undergraduate programmes under the previous Swedish higher education system corresponding to these entry requirements are also eligible.

The assessment whether an applicant has such ability in other respects to benefit from the programme shall be made based on prior courses and programmes taken by the applicant, on other previous activities, as well as on the essays and other independent projects of a scholarly nature that have been submitted by the applicant.

In selecting between applicants, their ability to benefit from the research studies shall be taken into account (see the university’s selection criteria, annex 2 to the general syllabus for the subject). If applicants are found to have equal qualifications, preference will be given to applicants of the underrepresented sex. The term underrepresented sex here refers to if and when the share of either female or male students enrolled on the research study programme in the subject amounts to less than 40 per cent.

Application
For more information and application, visit: https://www.oru.se/english/working-at-orebro-university/jobs-and-vacancies/