"PhD position Digital Product Passports - Legitimacy and Governance (1.0 FTE)"

PhD position in the field of "Industrial Digital Platforms for Digital Product Passports: Legitimacy and Governance" (1.0 FTE) at the University of Groningen.

Project Description: In light of the EU’s twin green and digital transition goals, digital product passports (DPPs) aim to track and evaluate products throughout their lifecycle. This research focuses on the legitimacy and governance of DPPs, addressing questions such as: What governance mechanisms enhance the legitimacy of DPP platforms? How do DPPs enable new business models in steel-using organizations? What legitimation practices ensure DPPs are reliable?

The objective is to explore effective legitimation strategies at organizational, industry, and governmental levels to promote DPP adoption for sustainable product lifecycles.

Requirements: Candidates should have a background in Management and Organization, Information Systems, Environmental Public Policy, Industrial Economics, or related fields. A master’s degree with excellent results is required. Fluency in English and an interest in sustainability are beneficial.

Conditions of Employment: A four-year fixed-term contract starting preferably on January 1, 2026. Gross monthly salary ranges from €2,901 to €3,707, with additional holiday allowance and end-of-year bonus. The position involves 38 hours per week and includes teaching duties in years 2-4.