KU Leuven Invites Applications for PhD Position on Workers' Career Decision-Making

The Faculty of Economics and Business at KU Leuven has invited applications for a PhD position in the Work and Organization Studies (WOS) research unit. The doctoral project focuses on understanding the frictions that influence workers' career decision-making and offers an opportunity to contribute to interdisciplinary research on careers, employability, and workplace well-being.

Position Details

Position: PhD Researcher
Institution: KU Leuven
Faculty: Faculty of Economics and Business
Research Unit: Work and Organization Studies (WOS)
Location: Leuven, Belgium
Reference Number: BAP-2026-404

Research Project

The selected candidate will undertake a PhD project exploring the frictions in workers' career decision-making processes. The research examines how financial insecurity, health challenges, caregiving responsibilities, and other personal or structural barriers influence career choices and career adaptability in today's evolving labour market.

The PhD research will be conducted under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Marijke Verbruggen and Prof. Dr. Anja Van den Broeck.

Research Focus

The project will contribute to research on:

Career decision-making and career self-management
Career adaptability and employability
Sustainable careers and worker well-being
Labour market transitions and career mobility
Factors influencing career choices and professional development

About the Research Unit

The Work and Organization Studies (WOS) research unit is an interdisciplinary group of approximately 50 researchers, including professors, postdoctoral researchers, and doctoral candidates, working across the Leuven, Brussels, and Antwerp campuses. The unit conducts internationally recognized research on work, careers, organizations, and employee well-being.

Why Apply?

This PhD position provides an opportunity to:

Conduct high-quality interdisciplinary research at a leading European university.
Work with internationally recognized scholars in career and organizational research.
Contribute to research with practical relevance for workers, organizations, and labour market policy.
Develop academic expertise while pursuing a fully funded doctoral degree.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application along with all required supporting documents through the official KU Leuven recruitment portal before the application deadline mentioned in the official advertisement.

Official Notification

Applicants are advised to carefully read the complete official notification for detailed eligibility criteria, funding information, application requirements, and submission guidelines before applying.

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