PhD candidate on the Psychological Consequences of Working Under Algorithmic Management

We are seeking a PhD candidate for a research project examining how algorithmic management affects individual employees in the employer-employee power dynamic.

Job description

The increasing use of algorithmic technology supporting the organization and execution of work is rapidly changing both workers’ and managers’ roles, tasks, and experiences. One of such applications is algorithmic management, which refers to the use of programmed algorithms to perform managerial functions, such as task assignment, target setting, performance monitoring, and decision-making regarding rewards or penalties. For instance, package delivery drivers work under varying degrees of algorithmic management, as an algorithmic system sets their daily targets, plans their routes, and monitors their driving behavior. This technological advancement can have substantial advantages, such as increased efficiency and reduced costs, supported decision-making, and inclusivity. However, depending on how algorithmic management is implemented and used, it may also affect the power dynamic between the employer and employee, with employers having increasingly comprehensive means to control employees’ behavior. 

This 4 year PhD project investigates the conditions under which algorithmic control fosters feelings of powerlessness among employees, and aims to uncover why this may be the case. Moreover, we will examine factors that may mitigate these effects in order to eventually be able to offer practical advice to organizations who aim to ethically and sustainably implement such systems. Planned methodology includes survey studies (cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experience sampling) as well as experimental designs conducted both online and in laboratory settings. 

The project combines various research methodologies and aims at uncovering the psychological consequences of working under (varying configurations of) algorithmic management. As part of the PhD trajectory, you will: 

• develop hypotheses, design empirical studies, collect and analyze data, present findings at international conferences.
• write articles to be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals that will be part of the PhD thesis. 
• The position includes a 10% teaching component, which may involve tutoring master's courses and supervising bachelor’s or master’s theses.
• You will also have the opportunity to obtain the university teaching qualification (Basis Kwalificatie Onderwijs, BKO). 

You will be supervised by Dr. Rosine Rutten, Dr. Dongning Ren, and Dr. Philippe Verduyn, and you will be embedded in the department of Work & Social Psychology, consisting of an enthusiastic team of PhD students, Assistant-, and Associate Professors that will support you in developing research and teaching skills. Starting month of the position will ideally be September, 2025.

Requirements

• A Master's degree in Social Psychology, Work & Organizational Psychology, Management, or a related field;
• Quantitative research and data analytic skills; experience with and/or affinity to work with data analysis software such as SPSS, R, Matlab, Mplus; experience in conducting experiments and longitudinal or experience sampling studies is a plus;
• Good scientific writing skills;
• High willingness to learn, good self-management, diligence and conscientiousness;
• A proactive mindset; experience approaching and engaging with people and organizations is a plus;
• A strong interest in researching AI in the workplace, power dynamics, and/or employee well-being;
• High proficiency in written and spoken English; understanding of Dutch, German or French is a plus.

What we offer
As a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €2901,00 in the first year and €3707,00 gross per month in the fourth year (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow. 
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model. 
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students. 
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'. 

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM. 

Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
The Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) is an international faculty with students and staff from various cultural backgrounds, who are connected by their shared curiosity about human behaviour and our brains.   

This curiosity inspires us to explore the wide field of psychology from different perspectives (such as a biological and cognitive viewpoint). By using small-scale and student-centred methods, such as problem-based learning and project-based learning, we encourage a similar kind of curiosity in our students, as we provide them with the tools to discover the world of the human brain.  

 
Department

The PhD will be a member of the Work and Organizational Psychology (WOP) section that is, together with the Applied Social Psychology (ASP) section, embedded in the Department of Work and Social Psychology of the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience of Maastricht University. With its research activities, the WOP section seeks to contribute to a better understanding of how the challenges of a changing world of work can be addressed and working conditions can be created that benefit both organizations and employees. With this goal in mind, the WOP team investigates a broad range of topics in the area of occupational health, team flourishing, leadership, and organizational behavior (https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/wsp/research/work-and-organisational-psychology). 

We are committed to conducting high-quality research that addresses societal challenges and matters while at the same time being theory-driven and contributing to a refined understanding of psychological processes in the context of work. We value collegiality, knowledge exchange, and collaboration within our research group as well as with other research groups within and outside Maastricht University.

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Dr. Rosine Rutten via rosine.rutten@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information.
 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD candidate? Apply now, no later than June 19th, 2025, for this position.

Please upload your CV, university transcripts, and a motivation letter outlining your motivations for applying for this position and including the contact details of two referees we may approach.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

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.