The Humanities and Social Sciences Group, Faculty of Economics and Business is looking for a doctoral researcher starting October 1st, 2013 or as soon as possible thereafter. Applicants with master's degrees in any area of Humanities and Social Sciences can apply (e.g., Management, Psychology, Applied Economics, Business Engineering, Sociology, or other). The project aims to answer the following, interrelated questions: How should human potential, in the context of the workplace, be defined, operationalized, and measured? Which factors contribute to the individual experience of the realization of human potential over time (studied from different temporal angles, i.e. retrospective, perspective, and prospective)? How can organizations capitalize on the potential of their workforce in terms of strategy, assessment, and development?

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The PhD project will be part of a larger-scale long-term research program, which aims to advance academic understanding of human potential in the workplace. The research program is multidisciplinary, in that it builds on ideas, assumptions, and contributions from different streams of the academic literature (i.e., the HRM literature, the giftedness literature, the social psychology literature, the positive psychology literature, and the careers literature). It is multimethod, in that a mix of quantitative (e.g., surveys, experiments) and qualitative (e.g., interviews, perceptual mapping) designs are proposed, which will inform each other to form a cumulative body of knowledge about human potential in the workplace. Finally, it takes a multilevel approach, in that studies will run across three levels of analysis—i.e. theoretical/conceptual, individual/psychological, and organizational/strategic. Within the borders of this broader research program, the doctoral researcher that would be hired will have the freedom to carve out his/her personal PhD project. Your job will consist of the following activities: • Design and analysis of a series of quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed-method studies; • Writing of scientific articles with the aim of including them in your PhD dissertation; • Active participation in (international) seminars and conferences; • Completion of the PhD program of the Faculty of Business and Economics (see: http://www.econ.kuleuven.be/ond/eng/edu/phd/regulationseng#docttew); • Provision of educational support and/or engagement in teaching activities (e.g., supervision of master’s dissertations, supervising and grading exams). Duration of the project will be 4 years, counting from the first day of employment.

Benefits

KU Leuven was elected 'employer of the year' (in the non-profit category) in 2013! We offer employment as a full-time doctoral researcher in a stimulating environment starting October 1st, 2013 or as soon as possible thereafter, for a period of 4 years (pending positive evaluation after 12 months). More information on the terms of employment can be found on: http://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/en/working

Additional Job Details

The Research Centre for Organisation Studies is an interdisciplinary group of scholars with backgrounds in economics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, pedagogics, philosophy and history, bringing different theoretical as well as methodological perspectives to the study of organizational behavior topics (e.g., career transitions, talent development, employability, leadership, human resource management). The group consists of 5 faculty, and 12 PhD and postdoctoral researchers located in Leuven, with many more faculty and researchers located at associated departments at HUB (Brussels) and Thomas More (Antwerp). The University of Leuven is a research-oriented institution and is consistently ranked among the top research universities in Europe. Leuven is one of the oldest university towns in Europe, about 30 km from Brussels. It has a rich history, culture and night life, and a unique friendly atmosphere.