Copenhagen Business School invites applications for a vacant PhD scholarship within the field of Information Systems broadly and specifically at the conjunction of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Business Models.

Core research areas of the Department of Digitalisation are (1) Information Systems, (2) Digital Platforms and Business Models, (3) IIoT and (4) AI amongst others. It is the ambition of the Department that to create a context where researchers can accomplish their potential in a supportive and conductive environment with a set of common values, aspirations and directions. Teaching responsibilities of the Department comprise undergraduate and graduate teaching in Information Systems and the Digital Economy.

This position is linked to the “Embedded AI” project which is funded by the Digital Research Centre Denmark (DIREC) and CBS. This is an interdisciplinary project initiated by researchers from Aarhus University, Aalborg University, Alexandra Institute, Copenhagen Business School, and Technical University of Denmark, as well as industrial partners from the private sector.

The “Embedded AI” project aims to investigate new models of IIoT involving the merging of AI and IoT into “Artificial Intelligence of Things” (AIoT), and creating Embedded AI, where all or parts of AI processing are done on sensor devices at the edge of the ecosystem, rather than centrally on cloud based systems. Working together, the project members will design technical and socio-commercial elements of a potential embedded AI driven Artificial Intelligence of Things.

The CBS team will focus on developing business models for Embedded AI. In embedded AI environments there is a need to move beyond established business models to approaches which  reflect embedded AI’s distributed nature, associated hardware constraints and shared infrastructure.

In this context and given a foundation of traditional and current state of the art business models, the CBS team will develop scenarios of different types of business models in an ecosystem of complementary and even overlapping embedded AI services. Ultimately, the CBS team will propose business models where the distributed and shared nature of embedded AI is captured.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate an understanding of:

• Qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Digital platforms and/or digital infrastructures.
• Digital ecosystems and digital business models.
• The Industrial Internet of Things and/or applications of AI in an industrial context.
• An understanding of associated information systems and strategic management theory.
• Have fluency in written and oral English

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 in high demand.

CBS is committed to ensuring excellence, transformative and relevant teaching and research. 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:www.cbs.dk/en.

Application and admission requirements

The department will give priority to applicants with high grades from their universities.

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://eng.uvm.dk/general-overview/7-point-grading-scale)
• 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 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)

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 Ben Eaton, tel.: +45 3135 1371, e-mail be.digi@cbs.dk. Information about the department can be found at www.cbs.dk/en.

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 op til 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: 31 December 2021.

Apply online