The research center BEE at Faculty of Economics and Business KU Leuven is a diverse group consisting of passionate behavioral scientists from various backgrounds (https://feb.kuleuven.be/BEE/). BEE studies human decision making and behavior in an economic environment from an interdisciplinary angle. The basic assumption underlying BEE’s research program is that decision makers often make suboptimal decisions in a sometimes too challenging economic environment. BEE studies both decision making and behavior, as well as underlying mechanisms. Specifically, the focus is on (1) understanding and predicting decision making and behavior, and (2) supporting change in decision making and behavior in a sustainable way. BEE draws on techniques and insights from diverse disciplines such as economics, marketing, psychology, philosophy, medical sciences, engineering and biology. BEE’s ultimate goal is to stimulate and support decision makers in making welfare enhancing decisions, inspire policy makers to design policy in support of such decisions, and as such contribute to a better society.
BEE is committed to training PhD students towards a PhD of an international standard.
Project
You will conduct an academic research project and write a PhD thesis on the topic of sustainability gains in clothing, with a specific emphasis on understanding of individual behavior regarding the (dis)use of garments and behavior change initiatives aimed at a circular economy (CE).
Overconsumption and overproduction of clothing have significant adverse environmental impacts. To address these issues, transitioning to a Circular Economy (CE) is essential. CE emphasizes lifecycle thinking, with a core principle of value retention—keeping materials in use for as long as possible to mitigate the environmental burdens of production and waste treatment. However, current CE practices often overlook the use phase of products, prioritizing material flow mapping and efficiency improvements over sustainable consumption. Consequently, policies tend to focus on technological solutions like eco-design and recycling.
Recent studies reveal that many garments are discarded before wearing out, often due to changing preferences or body types, as evidenced by reusable items in household waste. Additionally, a significant portion of garments in wardrobes remains dormant, indicating potential for increased utilization. Yet, waste prevention through altering consumption patterns has received insufficient attention.
To realize the potential of extending the use phase of garments, a deeper understanding of individual behaviors regarding garment (dis)use is critical. This understanding is vital for developing meaningful policy interventions toward a circular future. The project aims to enhance knowledge of consumer wardrobes and their relationship to garment use, utilizing methodologies such as wardrobe audits. It will also explore existing and new behavior change initiatives aimed at fostering a CE for clothing, focusing on identifying barriers and facilitators for both reactive (e.g., reuse) and proactive (e.g., reduce) strategies.
Your job will consist of the following activities:
- Working proactively on the several steps of the research process (e.g. literature review, data collection, data analysis).
- Writing scientific papers with the aim of integrating them in a doctoral dissertation and publishing them in scientific journals.
- Active participation in (international) seminars and conferences.
- Completion of the PhD program of the Faculty of Economics and Business.
- Supervision of master's theses.
Profile
- We expect a candidate with a strong interest in sustainability, circular economy, consumer behavior and behavior change. While an extensive background in (psychological) determinants in human behavior is not required, we do expect a strong interest of the candidate in this domain and an eagerness to deepen their understanding and knowledge in it.
- You have a master's degree within the social sciences and humanities (e.g., Business Economics, Business Engineering, Psychology, Sociology) or the exact sciences (e.g., Materials Engineering, Bioscience Engineering, Sustainable Development, etc.).
- You obtained at least two distinctions during your higher studies, one of which was in your master's degree.
- You have strong organizational and communicative skills, and know how to work in team.
- You are conscientious, proactive and capable of working independently.
- You are an analytic thinker.
- You are proficient in English and preferably also Dutch (for data collection) or French.
Offer
A fulltime appointment as PhD scholarship holder in a stimulating work environment for a period of 4 years subject to a positive assessment after 12 months. Starting date is flexible, but preferably February/March 2025. You will have a shared office at our campus in the center of Leuven, a lively city in the heart of Europe.
More information on the terms of employment can be found on: https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/en/working-at-kuleuven
This PhD position will be supervised by Prof. Filip Germeys and Prof. Siegfried Dewitte of Behavioral Economics and Engineering research center (https://feb.kuleuven.be/BEE/), in close collaboration with Prof. Karel van Acker of the Sustainability Assessments of Materials and Circular Economy research group (https://www.mtm.kuleuven.be/english/research/semper/sustainability-assessments-of-material-life-cycles), and the Center for Economics and Corporate Sustainability (https://feb.kuleuven.be/research/sustainability).
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Filip Germeys, tel.: +32 496 555 333, mail: filip.germeys@kuleuven.be.
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.