PhD scholarship in Sustainable Hybrid Work - DTU Engineering Technology

The Research Section for Strategy and Leadership Development at DTU Engineering Technology offers a PhD student position in the field of hybrid work and the impact on transport patterne and climate.
The Department of Engineering Technology at the Technical University of Denmark invites applications for a 3-year PhD position in investigating the impact of hybrid work on transport behaviours and climate impact, starting January 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter in 2025. The position is part of a joint Alliance research project between TU/e, Netherlands and DTU. The position is affiliated with the Strategy and Leadership Development research group, which aims to develop new knowledge and rethink how workplaces and organizations understand management and organization of work when implementing new technologies and facing societal and technological changes.​

Implementation of flexible and hybrid work not only has consequences for the organization and management of work but also for family and housing conditions, for local communities and cities, and for transport patterns and, thus, climate. Regarding climate and impact, organizations are increasingly being asked to provide documentation on how their activities impact the climate and demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability. At the same time, not all jobs can be carried out from different locations. Thus, hybrid work may create organizational challenges and work practices but also demands new decisions and strategies. Together, this makes the implementation of hybrid work in workplaces very complex, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, society, and the environment.

This PhD project aims to identify the key special characteristics of the sustainable management of hybrid work with a focus on employee well-being, organizational performance and environmental impact from both a business and a societal perspective. Moreover, it aims, to identify the contextual conditions that influence the management activities and decisions around sustainable hybrid work.

Responsibilities and qualifications
In recent years, several Danish and international studies have been published, which show that some of the factors that are important for (the implementation of) hybrid work and its effects are technologies, commute time, mobility, transport patterns, type of work (teleworkability) and management activities and decisions. However, there is a lack of exact knowledge about how these various factors influence each other and their overall effect on individual (employee) and organizational sustainability. The PhD project aims to deliver more profound insights into the interplay of the above-mentioned factors on hybrid work and its sustainability effects and will address questions like:

• How does hybrid work influence affect new transport behaviors?
• What are the key factors influencing this behavior?
• What is the climate impact of hybrid work behaviors – e.g. new transport behaviors, changed use of workplace at home and/or the office? And how can the effect be assessed? Also in combination with other organizational goals and targets?
• What can organizations do to find common ground in ensuring sustainable hybrid work to shape decisions, i.e. ensuring not only employee well-being and high organizational performance but also a positive climate impact?

As a PhD student, you will:

• Be responsible for conducting your own research project
• Work in close collaboration with researchers from DTU and TU/e
• Have the opportunity to teach and supervise engineering students at both DTU and TU/e
• Contribute to new knowledge about the effects of hybrid work
• Strive to publish your work worldwide in recognized journals
• Present your work at international conferences
• Discuss exciting research with your colleagues at weekly research meetings

This PhD project will be supervised by Professor Christine Ipsen as the main supervisor and Associate Professor Kasper Edwards at DTU. As an Alliance PhD, the candidate will also work together with Professor Pascale Le Blanc at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), who is a co-supervisor. The project includes recurrent visits and an extended research exchange stay at TU/e in the Netherlands.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree, as well as:

• Knowledge about human behaviour, transport patterns, and (models of) climate change,
• Basic understanding of behavioural science, transport behaviour, behaviour change, climate impact (models)
• The ability to work independently
• Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken
• Documented experience with research methods, especially conducting, processing, and analysing quantitative data
• Ability to conduct research interviews and analyse the data.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

Assessment
The applicants will be assessed by Professor Christine Ipsen and Associate Professor Kasper Edwards. The interviews are planned to take place in November 2024.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

The starting date is 1st January 2025 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position that requires regular physical presence in the department.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Christine Ipsen ([email protected])

You can read more about DTU Engineering Technology at https://engtech.dtu.dk/

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 31 October 2024 (23:59 Danish time).

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
  • In your application please reply to:
    • Do you have documented experience with research methods, especially conducting, processing, and analysing quantitative data?
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A short text (max. 2 A4 pages) where you outline your research vision within the PhD topic

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

About us
DTU Engineering Technology develops tools and methods for successfully implementing technology and state-of-the-art engineering education. Our activities are organized in several research sections focusing on engineering education research and research in technology implementation within a wide range of engineering fields, covering both technical, organizational, and business aspects of the implementation process.

The Strategy and Leadership Development Group studies organizations and organizing for and of societal transformation, whether that be towards sustainability, technological entrepreneurship, or public governance. We focus on the role of novel and established technologies in enabling green transitions and societal progress by and in organizations.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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