PhD Researcher: Gender gaps in Venture funding

Do you have a passion for research and the ambition to explore, across your PhD, (un)ethical behaviours and gender biases in start-up evaluations? Do you have the right academic background, and are you ready to start this 4-year journey in our open, international, and collegial environment? Let’s meet!

PHD RESEARCHER: GENDER GAPS IN VENTURE FUNDING   

Vlerick Business School is an innovative, top-ranked and sustainable international business school in the heart of Europe. Our purpose is to transform people for a better world! We want being at Vlerick to be a transformative experience where you discover the knowledge, mindset and confidence you need to take your next leap – and become the entrepreneurial leader our world needs.

As part of our close-knit team, you will bring our strategy and purpose to life. Are you excited to join our international research community as a PhD researcher on ethics and gender gaps in venture funding? Here’s what you need to know!   

Your mission  

As a PhD researcher in the field of inclusion in venture funding, you will participate in designing and running experiments, processing data and contributing to academic research papers that investigate a) the extent to which prospective entrepreneurs are willing to misrepresent or exaggerate the potential of their business to attract resources; b) how potential investors evaluate start-up pitches that engage in such practices; and c) the extent to investors’ knowledge of such misconduct in a given setting is likely to spill over to other entrepreneurs.

You

• Have a Master’s Degree in Organizational Behavior, Economic Sociology, Psychology (focusing on business/ market/organisational settings), Behavioral Economics, or a related field.
• Have a high GPA. Ideally, you have obtained cum laude at least once in your bachelor's and at least once in your master's year(s).
• Have an interest in entrepreneurship, business ethics, and/or gender inequality (ideally, at least in two of these areas).
• Are outstanding in experimental research methods, econometrics/ quantitative analysis (or both).
• Want to conduct relevant scientific and applied (business) research.
• Want to provide (teaching) support to your supervisors and the research area and gain experience in this domain.
• Can work autonomously and have a proactive attitude.
• Have strong academic writing skills and are fluent in English.
• Want to work on our beautiful campuses in Ghent, Brussels or Leuven in combination with your home office.

#ProudtobeVlerick

• Autonomy and responsibility in an engaging work environment.
• A dynamic, open, and international company culture.
• Opportunities for professional and personal growth.
• A team of enthusiastic, driven colleagues, passionate about learning.
• Opportunities to build your network, both in academics and in business.
• You’ll have a real impact and inspire people to live, learn and leap!

At Vlerick, openness to the world is part of our DNA. We are continuously working towards being a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive place to work and learn. So, no matter who you are, where you come from, or what your dreams are, we are looking forward to receiving your application.

Vlerick Business School is the hosting institute for this PhD journey, with Andreea Gorbatai as your promoter. The salary for a starting PhD student is around 2500EUR net per month. 

Take the leap!

If you meet these criteria, please apply with your English resume, motivation letter and transcripts of your BSc and MSc degrees on our website. As the results of a TOEFL or IELTS and/or a GRE or GMAT score might be a requirement for the selection process, please upload them upon availability. Happy to give you more information, so feel free to contact [email protected] on the job content and the selection process, and [email protected] on working at Vlerick.