PhD Researcher: Fairness in Platform Ecosystems

PhD Researcher: Fairness in Platform Ecosystems

Ghent, Brussels, Leuven, Belgium

Do you have a passion for research and the ambition to obtain your PhD in the field of digital platforms and ecosystems? Do you have the right academic background, and are you ready to start this 4-year journey in our open, international, and collegial environment? Let’s meet!

PHD RESEARCHER: FAIRNESS IN PLATFORM ECOSYSTEMS  

Vlerick Business School is an innovative, top-ranked and sustainable international business school in the heart of Europe. Our purpose is to transform people for a better world! We want being at Vlerick to be a transformative experience where you discover the knowledge, mindset and confidence you need to take your next leap – and become the entrepreneurial leader our world needs.

As part of our close-knit team, you’ll bring our strategy and purpose to life. Are you excited to join our international research community as a PhD researcher on the topic of Fairness in Platform Ecosystems? Here’s what you need to know!  

Your mission  

As a PhD researcher in the field of Platforms and Ecosystems, you will investigate fairness in platform ecosystems, focusing on how distributive and process justice affect trust, engagement, and platform performance. As platforms like Amazon, Booking, and Just Eat Takeaway dominate various markets, fairness concerns—such as that related to the revenue model, governance, and algorithmic decision-making—are increasingly critical. While extant research has focused mainly on P2P contexts, you will focus mainly on platforms and ecosystems with a strong B2B component. Using experimental and qualitative methodologies, this research will uncover strategies for fostering fairness, driving innovation, and ensuring long-term success for platform ecosystems. If you're excited about contributing to cutting-edge research on responsible platform governance with real-world impact, we’d love to hear from you!

You

• Have either a Master’s Degree in Management, Strategy, Entrepreneurship or a similar field and a proven interest in the field of Organisational Behaviour or Psychology or a Master’s Degree in Organisational Behaviour, Psychology or a similar field and a proven interest in Management, Strategy or Entrepreneurship.
• Have a high GPA.
• Have an interest in how platforms and ecosystems work and how ethical behaviour impacts business and innovation performance.
• Are outstanding either in experimental or qualitative research methods (or both).
• Want to conduct relevant research for the academic and business worlds.
• Want to provide limited teaching support to your supervisors.
• Can work autonomously and have a proactive attitude.
• Have good writing skills and are fluent in English.
• Want to work on our beautiful campuses in Ghent or Brussels in combination with your home office.

#ProudtobeVlerick

• Autonomy and responsibility in an engaging work environment.
• A dynamic, open, and international company culture.
• Opportunities for professional and personal growth.
• A team of enthusiastic, driven colleagues, passionate about learning.
• Opportunities to build your network, both in academics and in business.
• You’ll have a real impact and inspire people to live, learn and leap!

At Vlerick, openness to the world is part of our DNA. We are continuously working towards being a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive place to work and learn at. So, no matter who you are, where you come from, or what your dreams are, we are looking forward to receiving your application.

Vlerick Business School is the hosting institute for this PhD journey, with Ksenia Podoynitsyna and David Patient as your promoters, who will provide expertise in platforms and ecosystems, and in psychology, respectively. Ghent University will be your PhD granting institute. We offer you a contract of definite duration for a term of 4 years. More information on the salary scale (WM1), staff benefits, and employment conditions can be transparently accessed via the links.

Take the leap!

If you think you meet these criteria, please apply with your English resume, motivation letter and transcripts of your BSc and MSc degrees on our website. As the results of a TOEFL or IELTS and/or a GRE or GMAT score might be a requirement for the selection process, please already upload them upon availability. Happy to give you more information, so feel free to contact ksenia.podoynitsyna@vlerick.com and david.patient@vlerick.com on the job content and the selection process, and hr@vlerick.com on working at Vlerick.

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