Research Assistant/Doctoral Student (f/m/d) - Chair of Logistics and Services Management

WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management is the leading private business school in Germany and is continuously ranked among the top business schools in Europe. On WHU’s two campuses in Vallendar (near Koblenz) and Düsseldorf, faculty, students, and staff enjoy working in a stimulating international environment. The organizational culture combines an entrepreneurial attitude and international orientation with a strong sense of community and diversity and a high commitment to excellence.

WHU invites applications for the temporary part-time position of Research Assistant/Doctoral Student (f/m/d) - Chair of Logistics and Services Management located at WHU Campus Düsseldorf.

We are a dedicated team passionate about our work, focusing on projects within the logistics and services industry and addressing current supply chain management topics. Our research aims for publication in top international journals while providing solutions to industry challenges. We frequently collaborate with renowned scientists from national and international research institutes.

The Chair fosters a goal-oriented, collaborative atmosphere, supporting doctoral candidates in completing their thesis within a two- to three-year timeframe. We provide industry insights and the skills necessary for independent research project execution.

Your Mission

• You develop your ideas for your dissertation topic in close coordination with the chair. The topic should be aligned with our research areas in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, and/or Service Management.
• As part of your dissertation, you prepare scholarly articles that you present at international conferences and publish in academic journals.
• You contribute to empirical research projects that address current challenges.
• You actively participate in the organization of a European research conference.
• You support teaching activities at WHU across various programs, including the supervision of student theses.
• You shape your time at the chair as an intensive, self-directed learning and development phase, in which you contribute new ideas and actively help shape the future direction of the chair.

Your Profile

• Eager team player with strong conceptual and analytical skills and a high level of initiative, and you derive pleasure from creative problem-solving work.
• Completed (or soon-to-be-completed) management-related master’s degree.
• Proficiency in English in (academic) writing and spoken word (minimum C1-level)
• Experience or focus in SCM, logistics, and/or services management is beneficial but not required.

What We Offer

Academic environment: WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management proudly maintains its standing as one of the highest-ranked institution for SCM research outside the United States, securing the #1 position in the 2025 SCM Journal List™. This accolade underscores WHU's ongoing dedication to scholarly excellence and its significant impact on the field. The prestigious ranking evaluates universities globally, considering their empirical supply chain management (SCM) research output from 2020 to 2024.

The Chair of Logistics and Services Management is part of the Supply Chain Management Group at WHU, which unites the independent chairs of International Business & Supply Management I (Lutz Kaufmann), International Business & Supply Management II (Felix Reimann), Logistics and Services Management (Carl Marcus Wallenburg), Logistics Management (Stefan Spinler), Operations Management (Liji Shen), Production Management (Arnd Huchzermeier), Sustainable Urban Transport (Arne Strauss), and assistant professor Jiachun Lu.

Furthermore, WHU has more than 50 faculty members in the fields of management, finance and accounting, economics, entrepreneurship and innovation, marketing and sales, and supply chain management. Research at WHU aims to adhere to three principles: quality, internationality, and relevance to business practice.

Work at the chair: Option to work remotely with regular team days in Düsseldorf. Networking with leading companies and colleagues at WHU, one of Europe's premier business schools. Supportive and motivated team fostering continuous learning and open dialogue. Access to leading companies and data for research purposes. Participation in seminars, doctoral colloquia, and international conferences. Opportunities for flexible working conditions and international experiences.

Application

Please apply through our website with the following materials: A cover letter (one page) outlining your background and your clear motivation for pursuing a PhD at WHU. Your up-to-date Curriculum Vitae. Transcript of records of all completed or current study programs. If available, a sample of academic work, such as your thesis or previous research projects undertaken as a student assistant or in a similar capacity. If available, letters of recommendation or employer's reference (Arbeitszeugnis) from prior employment (e.g., internships).

The application process includes (virtual) interviews with chair members and potentially a case study. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Contact

For inquiries about the position, please contact: Professor Carl Marcus Wallenburg, Chairholder & Associate Dean Graduate Programs, email: wallenburg@whu.edu.

For administrative queries, please contact: Daniela Wempe-Jungemann, Personal Assistant at the Chair of Logistics and Services Management, email: daniela.wempe@whu.edu.