PhD in Green Transition and Sustainability

The Department of Management, Society and Communication (MSC) invites applications for a Ph.D. position investigating developments in green transition and the intersection of environmental, social and economic pillars of sustainability. Green Transition is a key strategic area for CBS.   

The central objective is to advance our understanding of how the green transition is constituted and how it creates new conditions for policy-making, business practices and/or civil society engagement. The empirical focus can range from national and transnational dynamics in the Global North (i.e. The European Green Deal) to development issues regarding green transition in the Global South. Research can for example address the specific challenges and knowledge gap experienced by many SMEs when transitioning to sustainable practices; government and public policy initiatives and the impact of green transition on specific private, public sector and civil society actors including their strategies. Applicants are invited to explore green transitions as a socio-political phenomenon involving conflicts, tensions and/or paradoxical relations between environmental, social and economic prerogatives.

Applicants are required to develop a theoretically grounded research proposal with a clear empirical focus on green transition and sustainability. We invite interested candidates from different disciplinary backgrounds in the social sciences and humanities, such as business and management studies, political science and international relations, sociology and cultural studies, anthropology, geography, development studies, or media and communication studies.

Priority is given to applicants with

• High grades from their universities. For enrollment in the PhD School, the applicant must have achieved the grade of ten on the 7-point grading scale (or the equivalent) on their master’s thesis (see info on equivalents and grade conversion: http://eng.uvm.dk/general-overview/7-point-grading-scale ).
• A background in the social sciences and/or the humanities, and a strong interest in and curiosity towards doing theoretical and empirical research related to sustainability

MSC carries out multidisciplinary research on the relationship between business and society. Its faculty explore the conditions and practices of responsible management, organisation and governance in a globalising world, sharing a particular concern with culture, communication and context as lenses to understand the interaction and interdependencies of business and society. MSC’s contribution to the study of responsible business and governance is organised around various research environments.

Further information is available here: https://www.cbs.dk/en/research/departments-and-centres/department-of-management-society-and-communication/research/research-environments

The successful PhD applicant will be a member of the MSC Department’s CBS Sustainability Centre. It is required that the applicant indicates how the planned PhD research can contribute to this research environment in particular.

The three-year PhD programme at CBS gives you the opportunity to conduct research under the supervision of CBS’s associate professors and professors, supported by research related PhD courses. The programme is highly international, and you are expected to participate in international research conferences and to spend time at another research institution as a visiting PhD student. See the CBS homepage for more information about the PhD programme: https://www.cbs.dk/en/research/phd-programme .

CBS PhD graduates are held in high esteem not only in academia and research institutions but also in government and business where their research qualifications are increasingly demanded. Copenhagen Business School has a broad commitment to the excellence, distinctiveness and relevance of its teaching and research programs. Candidates who wish to join us must be interested in working in an organisation of this type and it is expected that the applicant shows an interest in joining the department's research environment. You can read more about the department's research here: http://www.cbs.dk/msc

Because of our Department’s commitment to fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion, we seek candidates who demonstrate a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment.

Application and admission requirements

To be considered the applicant must

• have a basic education at master's level (corresponding to the 3 + 2 Bologna process)
• have received the grade of 10 (or equivalent) for the master's thesis according to the Danish 7-point grading scale (https://ufm.dk/en/education/the-danish-education-system/grading-system)
• have a weighted grade point average of at least 8.2 on the Danish 7-point grading scale for the bachelor's and master's degree combined or alternatively a weighted grade point average must be at least 9.5 for the master's degree alone
• have an educational background in the social sciences
• have completed the master's programme before starting the PhD programme at CBS
• master academic English at a high level in writing and speaking

The application (see link below) must include a five-page project description. The project description must include:

• a presentation of an original research question
• a description of the initial theoretical framework and method
• a presentation of the proposed empirical material
• a work plan for the three years

More information can be found here: https://www.cbs.dk/en/research/phd-programmes/admission .

In addition to the project description, copies of the following must be included:

• diploma for bachelor's and master's degree or other certificates at an equivalent level as well as the grade transcripts
• a concise curriculum vitae (CV)
• a list of articles and publications (if applicable)
• one example of a selected written work (e.g. master's thesis)
• documentation of English language skills

The PhD student is enrolled in the CBS PhD School. Further information about PhD scholarships and the PhD programme can be found at https://www.cbs.dk/en/research/phd-programme .

For further information please contact Head of Department Dorte Salskov-Iversen, email [email protected] . Information about the department may be found at www.cbs.dk/msc .

Employment and salary

A PhD scholarship runs for a period of three years, and includes teaching obligations equivalent to six months’ work (840 work hours). The scholarships are fully salaried positions, according to the national Danish collective agreement. The monthly salary is currently approximately DKK 27,871 up till DKK 33,659 depending on seniority and a pension contribution totalling 17.1%. The scholarship includes tuition fees, office space, course and travel costs (according to the current CBS agreement).

Salary level and employment take place in accordance with the Ministry of Finance's agreement with the Academics' Central Organization.

Recruitment procedure

The Recruitment Committee shortlists at least two-five applicants to be assessed by the Assessment Committee. Applicants are informed whether their application has proceeded for assessment.

Applicants selected for assessment will be notified about the composition of the Assessment Committee and will receive their personal assessment later. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview. Please note that a positive assessment does not automatically result in an interview.

Once the recruitment process is completed each applicant will be notified of the outcome of their application.

The application must be sent via the online link below.

Copenhagen Business School must receive all application material, including all appendices (see above), by the application deadline.

Details about Copenhagen Business School are available at www.cbs.dk/en .

Closing date: 15 March 2022.

Apply online

CBS is a globally recognised business school with deep roots in the Nordic socio-economic model. We have a broad focus on business and societal challenges of the 21st century. As such we have a full portfolio of high-quality disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and education that has equipped generations of professionals and leaders in the private sector and beyond.

Located at Frederiksberg, Denmark, the school has approx. 21.000 full and part-time students, 760 full-time faculty members, 210 PhD students and 680 administrative staff, and a full portfolio of Bachelor, Master’s, MBA/EMBA, PhD and Executive programmes delivered in English and Danish.

Our global profile carries the obligation to develop the transformational capabilities of students, graduates and business leaders via our educational activities and opportunities for lifelong learning. Complex challenges call for joint action, and therefore our strategy focuses on strengthening current and starting new partnerships with other sciences, the business community, authorities and civil society.