PhD student in Business Administration, specialization in entrepreneurship

Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics at Umeå University is looking for a PhD candidate in Business Administration, in the context of a research project on cryptocurrencies in entrepreneurship. Welcome with your application no later than 2025-08-15.

Description

You will work at the Department of Business Administration, Entrepreneurship section, at Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics with Prof. Norbert Steigenberger as your main supervisor. With this PhD project, funded by Lundbergs Foundation, we aim to generate knowledge about how entrepreneurs can use cryptocurrencies to create economic and social value and what risks cryptocurrencies pose from an entrepreneurial perspective. You specify your own research question within this area. The project is mainly intended for quantitative methods but is to some extent also open to qualitative methods.

As a doctoral student, you will read doctoral courses and conduct independent research, leading to a doctoral thesis in business administration with a focus on entrepreneurship. The course component of the doctoral program corresponds to 90 credits, while the research work corresponds to 150 credits. From our doctoral students, we expect commitment and creativity, as well as strong motivation for research, and the ability to work independently. You are also expected to contribute to the research environment through other activities, such as participation in seminars, conferences, and workshops. Within the entrepreneurship section, there is a broad portfolio of research projects employing different theoretical perspectives, methods and empirical orientations. Read more about the section at the following link: Business administration/entrepreneurship/.

Conditions of employment

The position will qualify you for a doctoral degree and your main task is to devote yourself to your research education, which includes your own research project and course work. In addition to this, some departmental service, such as teaching, to a maximum of 20% of a full-time position can be included in the employment. Salary is paid in accordance with the established salary scale for doctoral students at Umeå University. For more information about our doctoral education see: Research-with-us/doctoral-studies/

The place of employment is Umeå and teaching takes place on campus. We value commitment, participation and responsibility. As a doctoral student, you are expected to actively participate in the school's activities at department and unit level.

Eligibility and selection for doctoral education

Those who have completed a second-cycle degree, completed course requirements corresponding to at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are at second-cycle level, or otherwise acquired essentially equivalent knowledge are generally qualified for this position. Eligibility for admission to doctoral studies in business administration requires approved courses in business administration comprising at least 90 credits, including an independent project comprising at least 15 credits.

Selection among applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will be made with regard to their ability to benefit from the doctoral program and is based on the following assessment criteria (listed without inherent priority):

• previous academic performance
• the quality of the research sketch submitted and its relation to the stipulated research field
• communication skills, both written and oral
• methodological, analytical and critical-thinking skills
• ability to cooperate as well as to work independently,
• ability to meet given deadlines,
• personal suitability.

Very good spoken and written English skills are required. Knowledge of both spoken and written Swedish or willingness to learn Swedish within two years from the start of employment is an advantage. Interest in or knowledge/prior experience with the empirical field (cryptocurrencies and entrepreneurship) is a requirement, and relevant methodological knowledge (e.g. web scraping, collection and analysis of social media data, experience with R or Stata) is an advantage.

For the assessment of personal suitability, we place particular emphasis on

good interpersonal skills, unpretentiousness, contribution to a good working environment on site in Umeå.

The application

Your application should include:

• Curriculum Vitae.
• A personal letter outlining your motivation to apply for the doctoral program (1-2 pages).
• A research sketch depicting your idea for the empirical and theoretical design of a study in the research area outlined above (3-4 pages). The outline must be self-written, use academic references where appropriate and be created without the support of generative AI.
• Copies of grades and diplomas.
• Copy of thesis/degree project.
• Contact details with e-mail addresses of at least two referees.

The application must be written in English. During the recruitment process, interviews, tests and other assessment tools may be used.

You apply via the university's e-recruitment system and the application must be received by 2025-08-15.

Other information

Union information can be obtained from the following unions: ST, Saco or SEKO.

For further information, please contact Professor Norbert Steigenberger on +46 (0)90 - 786 69 64, norbert.steigenberger@umu.se, Head of Research Education, Associate Professor Mattias Jacobsson on +46 (0)90 - 786 61 47, mattias.jacobsson@umu.se or Deputy Head of Department, Professor Johan Jansson on +46 (0)90 - 786 78 72, johan.jansson@umu.se

More about Umeå School of Business, Economics, and Statistics

As an internationally respected, nationally influential and regionally rooted part of Umeå University, Umeå School of Business, Economics, and Statistics contributes to the development of society through education and research of high international standards. In interaction with the surrounding society, we conduct education and research that contributes to individuals' understanding, ability and responsibility regarding society's challenges and as well as to sustainable development. We are accredited by AACSB and sustainability-certified according to the environmental management standard ISO14001.

We are about 150 employees divided between USBE office and our units for business administration, economics and statistics. About 4000 students pass our courses annually and we conduct education from undergraduate to postgraduate level in business administration, economics and statistics.

The Department of Business Administration has about 60 employees. We conduct research in entrepreneurship, management, marketing, accounting and finance.

Read more about the School of Business here: https://www.umu.se/en/usbe/.

Welcome with your application!