PhD student position in Supply Chain Management

Do you want to contribute to transform the transport system from ‘within’? At the division of Supply & Operations Management we seek a PhD candidate to join our team of supply network scholars with an interest in how transport activities are organised and how efforts to reduce the climate impact of transport can transform the transport system.

Information about the research project and the department
The project aims at investigating what individual firms can do to reduce the carbon emissions resulting from the upstream transport activities embedded in their supply chains by (at least) half. Previous studies show how firms’ purchasing functions impact on transport both directly – through their purchases of transport services – and indirectly, through what they buy, how they buy various products, and from what suppliers. Apart from firm internal factors affecting transport, a range of external factors also set the terms, such as the suppliers’ locations, the transport infrastructure, the transport providers’ offerings as well as their other customers’ demands. The possibilities to reduce the transport emissions upstream are also influenced by the fact that transport is often included in the product offering which means that the transport activities are not visible for, or known by, the buying company. This limited ‘horizon’ entails difficulties for buying companies to be aware of how their purchasing behaviour impacts the transport activities embedded in their supply chains, and what they can do to reduce the climate impact resulting from these transport activities.

The study, carried out as a PhD project in collaboration with Siemens Energy AB, is an in-depth case study exploring the possibilities to dramatically reduce the climate impact of the upstream transport activities embedded in the supply chains of a company, through firm internal adjustments and in collaboration with various partners, such as suppliers, transport providers and other actors. Both possibilities and challenges are analysed as well as how the company and its partners might be influenced by changing external conditions e.g., increasing costs of transport and various regulations, and how these changes influence the choice of measures taken to reduce the climate effects of transport.

Read more about the Department of Technology Management and Economics here. 

Major responsibilities
You will be expected to:
- Carry out research activities in the project, including writing publications and theses
- Be an active and contributing member of the research group 
- Attend division and project meetings and conferences
- Take PhD courses as part of the Doctoral Programme
- Teach (20% of total work time) at bachelor and/or master level and supervise thesis students.

Your main responsibility as a PhD student is to pursue your own doctoral studies. To do this, you need to be highly motivated, be able to work independently, and be capable of engaging in collaborations involving different types of stakeholders from academia, industry, and society. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of the research verbally and in writing in English and preferably in Swedish as well.

Qualifications
To qualify as a PhD student, you must have a master's degree in e.g. industrial engineering and management, business administration or equivalent with a background in supply chain management and/or industrial marketing and purchasing, and with a genuine interest in industrial challenges such as circular economy, sustainable development and system transformation. You must have obtained a master's degree (or equivalent) in the relevant field or expect to complete such degree by the time the employment starts.

You are expected to conduct empirical research as primary activity, foremost applying a case-based qualitative research approach in close interaction with industry. Research results are expected to be disseminated through interactions with professionals as well as through publications in highly ranked journals within the subject area which require good writing and communication skills. Other merits include working experience from industry, collaboration, and management of relationships with stakeholders and project management. Since you will work in close collaboration with the Swedish part of Siemens Energy, and conduct interviews with various actors in Sweden, knowledge in Swedish is a merit.

Contract terms
The position is a full-time temporary employment, limited to five years (1+2+2). The employment is bound to successful completion of department evaluations after one and three years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.


Application deadline: 14 March 2022.


Read more and apply here: https://www.chalmers.se/sv/om-chalmers/Arbeta-pa-Chalmers/lediga-tjanster/Sidor/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=10229&rmlang=SE



*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 
   



Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!