The Department of Organization, Strategy, & Entrepreneurship (OSE) at the School of Business and Economics (SBE) of Maastricht University offers a 4-year PhD position for a student with a Master of Science degree, starting in September 2024. At SBE, we offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally oriented organisation where students receive an advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research. The PhD candidate will have the opportunity to carry out research within the OSE department, in the context of the topic described below, and within the PhD programme of the Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE). The PhD student will be part of a research group that has published their research in top-tier academic journals, such as Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of Applied Psychology, Organization Science, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, among others. PhD students will receive a budget for research funding and conference travel.

The selected PhD student will work on a research project aimed at studying how incumbent companies can leverage corporate venture capital (CVC) as a strategic tool to address the dual challenges of technological innovation and corporate responsibility. The main objective of the project is to advance knowledge on how CVC, particularly in sectors characterized by rapid technological advancements, (e.g., green technologies) can enable companies not only to stay ahead of competition, but also to significantly improve their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. The project also seeks to uncover the influence of top management teams and company structure in shaping effective CVC strategies that align with these dual objectives. This PhD project will focus primarily on the scholarly fields of strategic management and integrate knowledge from related fields of Entrepreneurship, and Economics of Innovation. The project’s envisaged methods are empirical (e.g., construction and analysis of panel data sets) supported by qualitative insights from the in-depth interviews with CVC managers.

Are you self-motivated, curious, and interested in scientific research? Do you have a record of high academic achievement (e.g., good grades, a strong master thesis, and/or involvement in other academic activities) and the ambition, mindset, and skills required to become an impactful researcher? If so, this PhD position at the OSE department might be the challenge you are looking for!

You hold a master’s degree and are able to show excellent (‘honours’-level) results in prior studies. You have a strong affinity for quantitative research and have developed good quantitative skills over the course of your studies. You are fluent in both spoken and written English and share our ambition to conduct high-quality research with scientific and practical/societal impact. You have a background in the field of economics, strategy, entrepreneurship, research, or other related fields. Ideally, you can demonstrate the following:

• Master’s degree (MSc) in Economics, Business, or related field of studies.
• Graduation from a two-year (Research) Master program (120 ECTS) is preferred.
• Strong academic track record.
• Motivation to conduct high quality research and publish in academic journals.
• Affinity for quantitative analysis.
• Prior research experience, skills in Stata, R, or Python are a plus.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

As PhD candidate at School of Business and Economics, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale P according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €2770,00 and €3539,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 18 months with a scope of 1.0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 2.5 years will follow.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.
  The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?
At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together. Click here for more information about UM.

The School of Business and Economics

The School of Business and Economics (SBE) is one of Maastricht University’s six faculties. Our mission is to contribute to a better world by addressing societal problems, by co-creating knowledge and developing team players and leaders for the future.

By joining SBE, you will be part of the 1% of business schools worldwide to be Triple Crown accredited (EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA). You will join an inspiring and international environment, where learning and development is priority.