PhD Student in Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Are you ready to take the next step in your academic journey? As a PhD student with us, you will work closely with leading researchers in a strong and international research environment, with access to advanced laboratory equipment and good funding opportunities. You are offered a secure position, high-quality supervision, and room to grow, both as a researcher and as a person. Would you like to conduct research close to one of Sweden's most strategic industrial initiatives – and together with researchers and colleagues at SSAB contribute to the transition to fossil-free steel? Then you will become part of a team that collectively works on a unique transformation project. As a PhD student, you will have a central role in the collaboration between the research group and SSAB and can continuously contribute to improving practice, while developing your competence in driving change. You qualify for both a continued research career and sought-after positions in industry. Subject Description Entrepreneurship and innovation encompasses organizational development with a special focus on business development based on innovative products, services, production solutions, or ways of leading and organizing operations. Project Description The project is carried out in close collaboration with SSAB and focuses on how established production systems in Nordic base industry can develop capacity for large-scale transition to green steel. You will be part of a joint team with researchers and representatives from SSAB who together develop knowledge and drive the work forward. The transformation involves not only technological change, but also requires new ways of working, leadership practices, and forms of organization that prepare operations for new processes, requirements, and business logics. The project is expected to contribute to the research frontier within entrepreneurship and innovation by developing knowledge about how entrepreneurial ways of working can be institutionalized in established industrial systems during structural transition. At the same time, the project contributes empirically grounded knowledge about how Nordic production can be developed to meet the requirements for sustainable and competitive production of green steel. Responsibilities A PhD student position involves both theoretical and practical work. As a PhD student, you are a central link between the research group and SSAB: you capture the organization's questions and ensure that knowledge and experiences flow between the parties. An important part of the work is to regularly be on site at SSAB's operations, follow the transformation work, and continuously collect data through, for example, observations and interviews. You work closely with the project team while driving your dissertation work. You are trained in scientific work by publishing articles and participating in national and international conferences, taking PhD courses, and may also have the opportunity to try the teaching role. Qualifications We are looking for an analytically strong and curious person with good methodological competence and a genuine interest in how innovation and entrepreneurial leadership function in industrial organizations. You thrive at the intersection of academia and business, take responsibility for your own tasks, and actively contribute to a team. The role requires that you can build trust in different professional contexts and feel comfortable regularly working in an industrial operation. Experience from process industry is a merit. You are motivated by combining theoretical depth with practical relevance and want to contribute to both scientific development and industrial transition. As a person, you are persistent, structured, and comfortable working in complex environments where different perspectives meet. You have a well-developed ability to express yourself both verbally and in writing in both Swedish and English. Knowledge of Finnish is a merit since SSAB also conducts operations in Finland. Basic eligibility for education at the research level is held by those who have 1. completed a degree at an advanced level, 2. completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at an advanced level, or 3. in some other way within or outside the country acquired essentially equivalent knowledge. In addition to basic eligibility, knowledge within business economics, industrial economics, management, or related fields is required. https://www.ltu.se/forskning/utbildning-pa-forskarniva/forskningsamnen-och-allmanna-studieplaner/humanistiskt-samhallsvetenskapligt-omrade-allmanna-studieplanerInformation Employment as a PhD student is time-limited for 4 years; teaching and other institutional service may add up to 20% of full-time. Place of service Luleå. Intended start date no earlier than November 1, 2026, or by agreement. For each position, preliminary salary transparency is indicated based on the position's requirements, responsibilities, and market conditions. https://www.ltu.se/om-universitetet/arbeta-hos-oss/att-soka-en-anstallning#h-Informationomlonet For further information, you are welcome to contact Professor Mats Westerberg, 0920-49 1808, [email protected] https://www.ltu.se/om-universitetet/arbeta-hos-oss/att-soka-en-anstallning#h-FackligakontaktpersonerApplication We prefer that you apply for the position using the application button below where you attach a cover letter and CV/list of qualifications and copies of verified degree certificates. Please mark your application with the reference number below. Both the application and degree certificates must be written in Swedish or English. Deadline for applications: September 15, 2026 Reference number: 4291-2026

Ask AI

Common questions about this listing — opens your AI with a ready-made prompt including the listing link.

• Is the salary in this job offer competitive for the role and location?
  Open in
• What questions should I ask at the interview for this position?
  Open in
• Which skills should I highlight in my application for this job?
  Open in