Postdoctoral Researcher Trust & Governance in Digital Product Passport Ecosystems

Postdoctoral Researcher on Trust & Governance in Digital Product Passport Ecosystems

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This fully funded 3-year Postdoctoral Researcher position is part of the project TRUPASS , funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The vision of TruPASS is that Digital Product Passports (DPPs) not only serve as a trusted technological artifact but, through their use and technological functioning, enable trust as a shared organizing principle amongst the ecosystem stakeholders.

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join our interdisciplinary research team and examine how trust interacts with (structural) governance principles, ecosystem properties, and stakeholder expectations/behaviour, amongst others. You will map ecosystems relationships through trust mapping and stakeholder analysis, using methods such as literature review, qualitative interviews, and network analysis to identify key actors, trust flows, and governance dynamics.

Building on these insights and those from Engineering sciences also involved in TRUPASS, you will help develop and validate a Trust Strategy Framework through industry case studies and stakeholder engagement. The research will generate empirically grounded insights and strategies to support trustworthy data exchange and effective collaboration in emerging DPP ecosystems.

The position offers the opportunity to conduct high-impact research at the intersection of digital innovation, governance, and sustainability, while contributing to top-tier academic publications and collaborative research activities.

• PhD in Information Systems, Management and Organization Studies, Strategic Management, Sociology, Industrial Engineering, or a related field;
• Strong affinity for or familiarity with socio-technical perspectives on trust, particularly in digital systems and ecosystems;
• Solid understanding of network and relationship dynamics, including structural and relational aspects of (trust) networks;
• Research interests aligned with topics such as digital ecosystems, data governance frameworks, trust and governance in digital systems, supply chain transparency, and data sharing platforms or data spaces;
• Proficiency in qualitative, quantitative, or mixed research methods, preferably including social network analysis, with the ability to publish in top-tier international journals;
• The ability to engage and collaborate with industry stakeholders, combined with excellent written and spoken English and strong communication skills.

• You will be appointed for a period of maximum 3 years full-time within a very stimulating scientific environment. The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues;
• Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU);
• Gross salary between € 3.546,- and € 4.728,- per month depending on experience and qualifications;
• Excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, a year-end bonus of 8.3% and a solid pension scheme;
• The flexibility to work (partially) from home;
• Free access to sports facilities on campus;
• A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis;
• Excellent support for research and facilities for professional and personal development;
• We encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other university staff;
• We are also a family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid) and career support for partners.

• A motivation letter explaining your interest in the position and how your skills and background relate to the research project;
• A full Curriculum Vitae, including your publications/work in progress and relevant work experience, demonstrating how your profile fits the…