Doctoral candidate in Information Systems on Institutional Applications of Decentralized Finance

SnT is a leading international research and innovation centre in secure, reliable and trustworthy ICT systems and services. We play an instrumental role in Luxembourg by fueling innovation through research partnerships with industry, boosting R&D investments leading to economic growth, and attracting highly qualified talent.

We’re looking for people driven by excellence, excited about innovation, and looking to make a difference. If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place!

Your Role

Successful candidates will join the young, vibrant, and interdisciplinary FINATRAX Research Group, which builds bridges between business research and information systems engineering. Our work is organised around four ‘decentralisation technologies’: Blockchain (DLT), Digital Identities, Federated Learning, and the Internet-of-Things. The group consists of doctoral and post-doctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds (e.g., business, technology, and policy), united in pursuit of sustainable technologies that positively impact society. For more information, please visit our website: https://wwwen.uni.lu/snt/research/finatrax/projects

Successful candidates will pursue a Ph.D. degree (Doctorate) in information systems engineering while assigned to an industry partnership with SPUERKEESS. In this project, different topics around the adoption of ideas from decentralized finance (DeFi) in an institutional environment will be explored, for instance, which information about DeFi assets customers seek from their bank or which services they would like to take. The potential impact of more decentralized constructions of existing services or financial key figures will also be investigated.

In general, the candidate will perform the following tasks:

• Carry out research in fields of interest to the research group, such as:
  • Foundations of distributed ledger technology and decentralized finance
  • Customer expectations regarding FinTech offerings
  • Business opportunities and complexity reduction through applying ideas from DeFi in an institutional context
  • Opportunities, challenges, as well as adoption and diffusion aspects of emerging digital technologies in general
• Disseminate results through scientific publications in outlets on the intersection between Information Systems and Computer Science
• Support the conceptualization and writing of research proposals to attract industry partnerships as well as national and European grant projects 
• Conduct research projects and create project deliverables 

Your Profile

• Master’s degree in information systems engineering, business informatics, business administration, management and technology, or a related field
• Interest in applying qualitative and/or quantitative research methods from information systems, such as qualitative interviews or simulation-based modeling
• Familiarity with a major programming language, such as Java, JavaScript, Python, or Rust
• Experience in foundations of market mechanisms and incentive schemes
• A collaborative team player with a desire to make a personal impact within our interdisciplinary research group 
• The commitment to participate in the design, implementation, and theoretical elaboration of high-quality solutions that solve significant problems 
• Self-initiative, creativity, curiosity, flexibility, and enthusiasm to work 
• Fluent written and verbal communication skills in English are required. Knowledge of French, German, and Luxembourgish is not required

Here’s what awaits you at SnT

• A stimulating learning environment. Here post-docs and professors outnumber PhD students. That translates into access and close collaborations with some of the brightest ICT researchers, giving you solid guidance
• Exciting infrastructures and unique labs. At SnT’s two campuses, our researchers can take a walk on the moon at the LunaLab, build a nanosatellite, or help make autonomous vehicles even better
• The right place for IMPACT. SnT researchers engage in demand-driven projects. Through our Partnership Programme, we work on projects with more than 55 industry partners
• Multiple funding sources for your ideas. The University supports researchers to acquire funding from national, European and private sources
• Competitive salary package. The University offers a 12 month-salary package, over six weeks of paid time off, meal vouchers and health insurance
• Be part of a multicultural family. At SnT we have more than 60 nationalities. Throughout the year, we organise team-building events, networking activities and more
• Boost your career. Students can take advantage of several opportunities for growth and career development, from free language classes to career resources and extracurricular activities

But wait, there’s more!

• Complete picture of the perks we offer
• Discover our Partnership Programme

In Short

• Contract Type: Contrat à durée déterminée 36 Mois (extendable up to 48 months if required)
• Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Heures par Semaine
• Location: Kirchberg
• Employee and student status
• Job Reference: UOL05540

The yearly gross salary for every PhD at the UL is EUR 38028 full time

How to apply

Applications should be submitted online and include:

• Full Curriculum Vitae, including the contact address and work experience
• Cover letter including:
  • A statement on the candidate’s personal motivation for applying (why a doctoral program, why in Luxembourg, minimum 300 words)
  • A statement on the candidate’s motivation for applying for this topic (minimum 300 words
• Transcript of all modules and results from university-level courses taken (Bachelor’s and Master’s degree or equivalent)
• Candidate’s higher education entrance qualification (e.g., high school diploma) if available

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception. Please apply formally through the HR system. Applications by email will not be considered.

The University of Luxembourg embraces inclusion and diversity as key values. We are fully committed to removing any discriminatory barrier related to gender, and not only, in recruitment and career progression of our staff.

About the University of Luxembourg

University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character. The University was founded in 2003 and counts more than 6,700 students and more than 2,000 employees from around the world. The University’s faculties and interdisciplinary centres focus on research in the areas of Computer Science and ICT Security, Materials Science, European and International Law, Finance and Financial Innovation, Education, Contemporary and Digital History. In addition, the University focuses on cross-disciplinary research in the areas of Data Modelling and Simulation as well as Health and System Biomedicine. Times Higher Education ranks the University of Luxembourg #3 worldwide for its “international outlook,” #20 in the Young University Ranking 2021 and among the top 250 universities worldwide.

Further information

Please contact: Johannes Sedlmeir and Gilbert Fridgen (email address: {first name}.{last name}@uni.lu).  Use the job title and reference number mentioned above in the subject line of your email.