PhD Position in Behavioural Decision-Making in Supply Chains

Welcome at Maastricht University!
How do individuals determine what others know? Often from unreliable non-verbal cues. This project will investigate and formalize this tacit skill in the context of global supply chains where buyers are critically dependent on the knowledge and skills their suppliers possess.

PhD Position in Behavioural Decision-Making in Supply Chains

• Our goal: To understand how decision-makers infer others’ knowledge in complex operational environments, and how these inferences shape outcomes in global supply chains.
• Your colleagues: You will join an interdisciplinary research team within the Marketing and Supply Chain Management (MSCM) department, working closely with researchers in behavioural science, psychology, and supply chain management.

We are inviting applications for a fully funded PhD position focused on how people infer others’ knowledge in complex decision-making environments. The project is jointly supervised by Dr. Tarikere Niranjan (https://niranjangroup.weebly.com/prof-tarikere-t-niranjan.html)  and Dr. Emir Efendić (https://eefendic.com) and examines how decision-makers in operations and supply chain contexts assess what others know, how accurate these assessments are, as well as which cognitive, behavioural, and physiological mechanisms underpin them.

The empirical focus is on global supply chains—settings in which buyers are critically dependent on suppliers’ expertise, even when that expertise cannot be directly observed. The project addresses questions that are both theoretically rich and highly relevant for contemporary organizations.

You will work on a multi-method research programme combining behavioural experiments, simulation-based decision tasks, and physiological measurements. A key element of the project is the development of an interactive supply chain simulation game that serves as an experimental research platform (https://msgames.in/).

In addition, you will design and conduct controlled behavioural experiments—both online and in the laboratory—to investigate how individuals infer others’ knowledge under uncertainty, which cues they rely on, and when these inferences succeed or fail. The project is designed to generate research suitable for submission to leading journals in behavioural science domains, such as judgment and decision-making, as well as in supply chain-relevant fields.

What is expected from you

• Translate high-level research ideas into testable questions and hypotheses grounded in behavioural science domains and supply chain contexts.
• Conduct literature reviews across a number of fields in behavioural and social sciences.
• Develop and run controlled behavioural experiments (online and/or lab-based).
• Apply advanced statistical methods appropriate for experimental and observational data.
• Ensure reproducibility and transparency of analyses (maintaining code, data pipelines, and documentation).
• Write-up research findings and prepare research papers.
• Present work at international academic conferences and internal research seminars.
• Participate actively in departmental research and educational activities.

What you can expect
You will work closely with the supervisors as part of a small, collaborative research team, while also developing increasing independence over the course of the PhD. The position involves a mix of conceptual work, experimental design, data collection, and rigorous analysis, with expectations comparable to leading research-oriented business schools. Room will also be provided for growth, learning, and personal development.

Are you ready to help shape how we understand decision-making in complex systems? Then we look forward to meeting you.

 
Essential qualifications

• A completed (or near-completion) Master’s degree in psychology, behavioural economics, operations and supply chain management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated interest in behavioural decision-making research (e.g. through a Master’s thesis, research assistantship, or internship).
• Strong quantitative and methodological skills, including experimental design and statistical analysis.
• Excellent written and spoken English (C2 level), suitable for academic writing and collaboration.

Desirable

• Familiarity with supply chain management, operations, or organizational contexts.
• Experience with advanced statistical methods (e.g. multilevel modelling, causal inference, Bayesian methods).
• Exposure to physiological or biometric data collection (e.g. psychophysiology, eye-tracking).
• Prior involvement in peer-reviewed publications or academic conference presentations.

What we offer
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:

• An 18-month contract with the prospect of extension to a total of 4 years based on mutual satisfaction.
• A gross monthly salary between €3.059,- and €3.881,- (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week), plus 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional public holidays, and the option to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and hybrid working options.
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

Ready to apply?

Are you interested in this role, please upload your CV and a motivation letter by February 22nd  2026.

We look forward to getting to know you!

About the School of Business and Economics

The School of Business and Economics (SBE) is one of Maastricht University’s six faculties. Our mission is to contribute to a better world by addressing societal challenges, co-creating knowledge, and developing team players and leaders for the future.

SBE belongs to the top 1% of business schools worldwide with Triple Crown accreditation (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA). You’ll join an inspiring, international environment where learning and development are a priority.

About Maastricht University

At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,000 students and 5,000 employees across five regional locations, six faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. Here, you’ll have the space to push boundaries and discover new opportunities—for yourself and for the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.