Doctoral Candidate (PhD) on Automotive Industry Digitalization in Cooperation with a leading German IT Consultancy

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.

The Centre is rapidly expanding its research activities and is seeking highly motivated doctoral candidates who wish to pursue research in close cooperation with our partners. For further information you may check: www.securityandtrust.lu and https://wwwen.uni.lu/snt/research/finatrax

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

This position is part of an industry partnership between SnT and Senacor Technologies. As a specialist for business IT transformations, Senacor shapes the IT of leading financial service providers and industrial companies with more than 600 employees. Together with their customers such as Deutsche Bank, BMW, Daimler, GLS and Deutsche Bahn, Senacor creates the basis for their business of tomorrow. For years, they have been one of the fastest-growing management consultancies in Germany.

Successful candidates will join a young, strong and motivated FINATRAX Research Group. The research group conducts research on the application and the impact of digital technologies like DLT/Blockchain, Digital Identities, Machine Learning/AI, and IoT/5G on organisations in the private or public sector. By doing so, it builds bridges between business research and information systems engineering. The group consists of doctoral and post-doctoral researchers who come from different disciplines (e.g., policy, business, technology) and pursue first-rate research on the design and impact of information systems in the automotive sector. 

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to pursue their PhD while gaining highly relevant practical experience and take the best of both worlds with our partner Senacor: Senacor’s network of experts helps candidates to validate their research while insights into current business issues promote a deeper understanding of future industry developments. Candidates will spend roughly half of their time with research and half of their time on consultancy projects in the automotive sector, which are thematically aligned with their doctorate.

They will combine practice and research by building first-hand experience in the following potential topics:

• Hands-on industry experience in sales and pre-sales in – for example – the transformation of customer management, the introduction of omnichannel services, the development of finance and mobility solutions, and  the establishment of a product portfolio management
• Insights into current & future trends and their impact on the industry, such as autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification & shared mobility (ACES) trends

Your Profile

Qualifications: The candidate should possess a master degree or equivalent in (Information) Economics, Information Systems (Engineering), Management, Finance, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field. 

What we are looking for:

• A collaborative team player with a desire to make a personal impact within our interdisciplinary research group 
• The commitment to participate in the design and implementation of high-quality solutions that solve significant problems 
• A high interest in current strategic issues of relevant automotive companies and future trends in the industry
• Self-initiative, creativity, curiosity, flexibility and enthusiasm to work 

Knowledge and/or experience in related areas (e.g., sales/aftersales in the automotive sector, digital transformation) will be appreciated but are not a requirement to apply.

Language Skills: Fluent written and verbal communication skills in English & German are required. Knowledge of either French or Luxembourgish will be appreciated but are not a requirement to apply.

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 45 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, health insurance and subsidised living and eating
• 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

But wait, there’s more!

• Complete picture of the perks we offer
• Discover our Partnership Programme
• Download the brochure: Why choose SnT for your PhD?

Students can take advantage of several opportunities for growth and career development, from free language classes to career resources and extracurricular activities.

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: UOL04758

The yearly gross salary for every PhD at the UL is EUR 3710136

Further Information

Applications in English should be submitted online and include:

• A 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)
• Full CV, including the contact address and work experience
• 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)

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

For further information, please contact snt-finatrax.hr@uni.lu