Two PhD student positions in supply chain resilience and sustainability

Are you interested in contributing to future supply chains while making a positive impact on the environment? We’re seeking to appoint two PhD students to join us in research contributing to a resilient and sustainable transformation of supply chains while making a positive impact on the environment. Emerging business and management developments, enabling technology to quickly react to modest as well as radically changed circumstances in supply as well as market demand, must be combined in a manner that accelerates the achievement of aggressive sustainability targets set out by regulators as well as companies themselves. The two posts target this challenge with two complementary focuses.

Project description
The first PhD post concerns investigation of the entire supply chain, from sourcing to end-of-life management at automotive manufacturers, to identify opportunities for improvement in terms of security of supply in a sustainable manner. It will involve close collaboration between academia and industry aiming to explore the potential of sustained and sustainable supply management in the electronics industry, a crucial component of the automotive supply chains. As the automotive industry undergoes a significant transformation, the need for sustainable practices is growing.

The second PhD post concerns the build-up of dynamic capabilities around the principles of the “triple-A Supply Chain” – Agility, Adaptability, and Alignment. The “triple-A” principles will guide the research focus, where the perspectives of reconfigurable supply chain structures (adaptable supply chain design), robust and dynamic planning processes (agile supply chain planning), and resiliency-sustainability focus (alignment) are combined. This research will also be conducted in close collaboration with industrial organisations with a focus on developing, implementing and generating value form triple-A supply chain capabilities.

Both posts require genuine interest in qualitative research design, with strong emphasis on action learning and knowledge co-creation. In the positions, you will work closely with your supervisors to design and conduct a research project focused on advancing supply chain management. As part of your role, you will also have the opportunity to contribute to teaching, spending around 20% of your time sharing your knowledge with others.

We look forward to welcoming you to a group of researchers that works in close interaction with industry, and with a strong track-record of conducting cutting edge research that is published in leading international journals and used by academics, students and executives worldwide. We have a large international network of collaborators at leading universities. We anticipate that you will benefit from our network during your PhD studies, besides presenting your research at international conferences. After finishing your PhD you will have a solid foundation for an international career in academia and/or industry and consulting.

Information about the division and the department
You will be part of the Department of Technology Management and Economics and the division of Supply and Operations Management. The division conducts research and education in supply chain management, industrial marketing, production logistics, and operations management. Our division benefits from close collaboration with the Transport and Production Areas of Advance at Chalmers and the research centre Northern LEAD. 

Major responsibilities
As a PhD student, your major responsibility is to pursue doctoral studies in relation to the research aim. Overall, PhD studies include a number of doctoral courses, reviewing literature, designing research studies, interacting with industrial companies, collecting and analysing empirical data, and reporting research results. You will take part in ongoing and future projects at the division in the area of supply chain planning and visibility related to circular economy. The exact focus of the work will be decided in interaction with the main supervisor. As a PhD student you take an active role in this research in preparing for and collecting empirical data, conducting analysis and presenting results. During the project, results will continuously be presented to the public, to the industry, at international conferences, and in scientific publications. Written and oral communication is crucial.

As a PhD student you will also be involved in teaching bachelor and master courses, and/or other departmental tasks for 20% of your time.

Qualifications
The successful candidate for this position has a Master's degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education credits in operations management, industrial engineering/management, supply chain management, or equivalent, with an interest in the topic of the position. You should have strong analytical abilities as well as an interest in working closely with practitioners on practically relevant prolems. Experience from multi-stakeholder interactions and industry experience are meritorious. In addition to the formal qualifications, selection is also based on the performance of the candidates in other work (e.g. thesis and advanced level courses), as well as on interviews and assignments. Besides good subject knowledge, emphasis will be on motivation, ability to cooperate, initiative to work independently, and personal suitability for research training.The position requires fluency in English, both in verbal and written communication. If Swedish is not your native language, you will also need to acquire Swedish proficiency. Chalmers offers Swedish courses. 

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

Application procedure
Please click here to find information about the application procedure.

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. 

Application deadline: 2023-05-04

For questions, please contact:
Ala Arvidsson, Associate professor, Supply and Operations Management
Email: ala.arvidsson@chalmers.se 

Patrik Jonsson, Head of Division and full Professor at Supply and Operations Management
Email: patrik.jonsson@chalmers.se

Arni Halldorsson, Full Professor at Service Management and Logistics
Email: arni.halldorsson@chalmers.se

Lisa Melander, Head of Unit and Assistant Professor at Supply and Operations Management
E-mail: lisa.melander@chalmers.se