PhD Position - Techno-economic Research

The stimulating interdisciplinary environment at iMinds allows researchers to work with important players in the field of ICT and telecoms, giving them a valuable insight in technology and market. We work with a very diverse range of industry and governmental actors. Previous partners include big companies such as Alcatel-Lucent, Proximus, Deutsche Telekom, Nokia-Siemens Networks, Telenet; small and medium sized enterprises such as Androme, BeMobile, Comsof, DigiPolis, OneAccess, Televic, ZapFi; as well as organizations and institutions like De Lijn, city of Ghent, TMVW, different hospitals, etc.
Evaluating the potential success of innovative ICT networks and services from different angels is one of the key issues tackled in our research. The success of new ICT services is predominantly determined by economic factors, like equipment and operational cost, adoption potential, revenue models, competition from similar services, etc. Therefore, well-understood value networks and viable business models, which are able to couple these economic aspects to their technological feasibility, are crucial. In this respect we are looking for researchers who are able to bring together both technical and economic skills.
Responsibilities
You perform techno-economic research in the domain of ICT networks and services.

• You acquire an elaborate knowledge of het ICT sector on-the-job, via literature study of scientific publications as well as via meetings with colleagues from the department and external partners. Finally, where relevant, you follow specific courses in the faculty of engineering.
• You are involved in research projects with different Belgian or foreign industrial partners. Recent projects are in the field of city network development, Internet-of-Things, big and open data.
• You model and evaluate individual actors’ business models as well as how actors’ decisions influence each other. This includes modelling on a conceptual level using different relevant methodologies like investment analysis, real options, game theory and others.
• You implement the theoretic concepts using relevant tools, like spreadsheet models, statistic analytics software or develop your own simulation or evaluation tool e.g. in a Java-based software environment.
• You publish and present results both at international conferences and in scientific journals.

Job offer
We offer a challenging, stimulating, young and pleasant research environment where you can contribute to solving real-life problems for technological innovations with a clear societal as well as economic value. The work is done in close collaboration with ICT and telecom industry players. We foresee a competitive remuneration and the possibility to obtain a PhD degree in Engineering.
More information
This job is offered within the techno-economic research unit at IBCN (http://www.technoeconomics.ugent.be/). The research Group IBCN (Internet-based Broadband Communication Networks and Services - www.ibcn.intec.ugent.be) is one of the founding research groups of iMinds. It also belongs to the faculty of Engineering and Architecture at Ghent University.

Desired skills and experience

We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications and skills.

• Holder of a Master degree in Economics or Engineering (economische wetenschappen, toegepaste economische wetenschappen, handelsingenieur, industrieel ingenieur, burgerlijk ingenieur), with a strong interest in ICT and telecoms.
• Strong analytical skills for designing models and analyzing research results.
• You work independently, have a strong feeling of responsibility and are able to commit to timing and milestones set forward by different research projects.
• You are a team player and have strong communication skills.
• A good knowledge of English (oral and written) is a must. Any knowledge of Dutch (oral) is a plus.
• Any programming experience using an object oriented programming language (preferably Java) is a plus.

About the employer

iMinds (www.iminds.be) is an independent research organisation whose task, assigned by the Flemish Government , is to encourage Innovation through excellent Digital Research. iMinds offers companies and organizations active support in research and development and, for that purpose, stimulates companies, authorities and non-profit organizations to work together on IT research projects. iMinds also offers programs to inspire, train and coach the next generation of IT entrepreneurs. The goal of iMinds’ incubation & entrepreneurship program is to bring IT innovations to the market, either by helping to build and grow successful high-tech IT ventures or by driving innovation in industry partnerships and collaborative research.
iMinds Research consists of more than 850 researchers working at the 5 Flemish universities (Ghent, Leuven, Brussels, Antwerp and Hasselt). It is an international, multidisciplinary research environment with top talent coming from more than 50 countries throughout the world.
iMinds has a non-discriminating gender & diversity policy when attracting research talent.
Contact
If you are interested in this job opening and your profile corresponds to the description above, please send your resume as soon as possible to prof. Sofie Verbrugge and Mrs. Martine Buysse
Universiteit Gent – INTEC
Gaston Crommenlaan 8, bus 201, 9050 Gent
sofie.verbrugge@intec.ugent.be
martine.buysse@intec.ugent.be