PhD Position in Sustainable Business Process Management and IoT-Driven Process Innovation at KU Leuven – Belgium

Summary

KU Leuven offers a fully funded four‑year PhD position in Sustainable Business Process Management and IoT‑Driven Process Innovation within the LIRIS research group of the Faculty of Economics and Business. The project aims to develop methods that translate sustainability goals into measurable process indicators, design IoT‑based data collection, integrate sustainability information into process analysis, and create adaptive, automated execution. Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field, possess strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, and be proficient in English. The appointment includes a competitive doctoral scholarship, social security, holiday allowance, an end‑of‑year bonus, and extensive training and collaboration opportunities. The start date is 1 February 2027, and applications are due by 23 October 2026.

Key Facts

Department	Faculty of Economics and Business
Position Type	PhD
Discipline	Information Systems, Business Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science
Research Area	Sustainable Business Process Management and IoT-Driven Process Innovation
Degree Required	Master's degree
Salary	Fully funded four-year PhD appointment; competitive doctoral scholarship
Funding	Fully funded four-year PhD appointment; competitive doctoral scholarship
Contract Duration	Four years, subject to successful yearly evaluations
Language	English
Deadline	2026-10-23
Required Documents	Motivation letter (max 1 page), Curriculum vitae including Master’s programme, university, country, year, final grades, Master’s thesis title, year, supervisor, Academic achievements, Transcripts of grades and previous qualifications
Employer Contact	[email protected]

About the Project

The research focuses on combining Business Process Management, Internet of Things, real‑time analytics and sustainability to create methods and technologies that enable organisations to measure, manage and improve environmental and social sustainability in daily operations. It includes translating sustainability goals into process performance indicators, designing IoT‑based data collection, integrating sustainability data into process analysis and redesign, developing adaptive execution, extending BPM models, and validating solutions in industrial settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate sustainability goals into measurable process‑performance indicators.
• Design IoT‑based methods for collecting sustainability‑related process data.
• Integrate sustainability information into process analysis and redesign.
• Develop adaptive and automated sustainability‑driven process execution.
• Extend BPM models, notations, methods, and technologies.
• Support decisions related to carbon emissions, energy use, worker well‑being, and safety.
• Validate proposed solutions in real‑world industrial environments.

Required Skills

• Knowledge of Business Process Management, Information Systems Engineering or digital technologies.
• Interest in sustainability, IoT, process automation, data analytics or digital transformation.
• Strong analytical, conceptual and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Who Should Apply

Applicants with a Master’s degree in Information Systems, Business Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science or a related discipline, who have knowledge of Business Process Management or digital technologies, a strong interest in sustainability and IoT, and excellent analytical, problem‑solving and English communication skills are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

• Fully funded four‑year PhD appointment.
• Competitive doctoral scholarship.
• Social security coverage.
• Holiday allowance.
• End‑of‑year bonus.
• Doctoral training and professional‑development opportunities.
• International research collaborations.
• Opportunities to publish in leading journals and conferences.
• Collaboration with academic and industrial partners.
• Supportive interdisciplinary research environment.

About the Employer

KU Leuven invites applications for a fully funded four‑year PhD position within the LIRIS research group at the Faculty of Economics and Business. The position is part of the Business Economics PhD programme (specialisation in Management Informatics) and offers a competitive scholarship, social security, and a supportive interdisciplinary environment with international collaborations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the application deadline?

The deadline is 23 October 2026.

When does the PhD position start?

The start date is 1 February 2027.

How long is the contract?

The contract is for four years, subject to yearly evaluations.

What documents must be submitted?

A motivation letter (max 1 page), curriculum vitae with master’s details, master’s thesis information, academic achievements, and transcripts of grades.

Who is the contact person for inquiries?

Prof. Dr. Irene Vanderfeesten ([email protected]).