Environmental and circularity modelling methods for sustainable business models

KU Leuven; Vlaams-Brabant; On-site; EUR 23,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International environment

PhD funding

Industry collaboration

Job summary

KU Leuven invites applications for a PhD position in environmental and circularity modelling methods for sustainable business models. The project aims to assess the environmental impact and circularity of future, high-value mechatronic products and their downstream value chains, including servitization and remanufacturing.

You will collaborate with the SAM team, develop data needs analyses for circular economy assessments, and contribute to a Digital Product Passport (DPP) system within the

Qualifications

• Master of Science in Engineering with cum laude or equivalent.
• Knowledge of LCA and Python modelling is mandatory.
• Expertise in business models, stock-flow models or manufacturing is a plus.
• Strong interest in sustainability and circular economy issues.

Responsibilities

• Conduct environmental and circularity modelling for sustainable business models.
• Collaborate across disciplines within SAM and KU Leuven teams.
• Advance methods for data needs assessment and a Digital Product Passport system.
• Contribute to teaching tasks and other research activities.

Skills

LCA modelling

Python modelling

Sustainability

Team collaboration

English communication

Critical thinking

Education

Master of Science in Engineering

Tools

LCA tools

Data analysis software

Job description

• Sollicitatieprocedure
• Arbeidsvoorwaarden
• Loopbaanmogelijkheden

The SAM team consists of 20 highly motivated researchers. We envision a future in which circular economy principles and decarbonization routes are embedded in all societal and industrial decision-making, enabling human development within planetary boundaries. Therefore, we develop and implement integrated methodologies and new indicators to evaluate and model circular economy and resource efficiency, and develop assessments of the (environmental, social and economic) life cycle impact of materials, products and circular economy business models from a systems perspective in order to strengthen the circular economy. Topics range from economic studies such as the criticality of future metal supply, optimizing textile sustainability, improving and assessing recycling technologies, and product-service system business models, to monitoring the CE for companies and regions, and developing concepts for information systems to support the CE. Our research is highly inter- and transdisciplinary, and we collaborate intensively with companies, NGO’s and governmental administrations, with a strong science-policy interaction, e.g. coordinating the Flemish policy research centre Circular Economy (https://ce-center.vlaanderen-circulair.be/en ). Our research team makes also part of the E2E core lab of Flanders Make (http://bit.ly/3FAMMaj; https://www.kuleuven.be/flandersmake ).

We are currently looking for a highly motivated researcher to pursue a PhD in environmental and circularity modelling methods for sustainable business models.

Project

The primary objective of the research is to develop a comprehensive, robust and feasible method to assess the environmental impact and circularity of (prospective) sustainable business models. The targeted applications are business models for long-living, high-value, connected mechatronic products, with a particular focus on the downstream value chain. The developed method should allow companies and their downstream value chain partners to qualitatively and quantitatively explore and model the environmental impact of new sustainable business models, such as servitization, remanufacturing, upgrading and repairing products. Data needs for implementing the assessments method(s) developed will also be addressed, based on a conceptual analysis of data needs in the circular economy, as well as robustness of the developed method. The research will build further on the vast experience of the SAM team in life cycle (sustainability) assessments, stock-flow analyses and the development of circularity indicators and will be ultimately used to give manufacturing companies the tools to assess and guide to the implementation of more sustainable business models.

The research is embedded in a larger Flanders make project “New Sustainable Business Models for High-value Mechatronic Products enabled by Digital Product Passports”. This position gives you the opportunity to collaborate intensively with high level researchers and companies in this field. The PhD researcher will more specifically closely collaborate with another KU Leuven based PhD researcher who will focus more on the development of methods to assess the economic impacts and viability of sustainable business models. Furthermore, other researchers in the project will develop a Digital Product Passport (DPP) system for capturing and sharing product related data in order to unlock new business opportunities or significantly reduce costs. The DPP system integrates necessary data sources and knowledge from multiple stakeholders, spanning the full product lifecycle through a knowledge graph-based “circular thread”, resulting in a Data Spaces-based DPP. The methods developed in the PhD position of this job offer will be made apt to the DPP data and interact with data spaces developed by other researchers within the project. The outcomes of this project will allow manufacturers, that often have a leading role in the value chain, to together with their downstream value chain partners, co-explore new business opportunities that not only reduce the environmental impact but also create value for all actors participating in the value chain.

The position should eventually lead to a PhD following the rules of the Arenberg Doctoral School (https://set.kuleuven.be/phd). You will also be involved in (limited) educational tasks and to collaborate in similar projects within the SAM team.

Profile

• You have a Master of Science in Engineering (Engineering Science or Bioscience Engineering). You have obtained this degree with at least cum laude as a grade.
• Knowledge of LCA and modeling in python is mandatory as well as specific expertise in one or more of the following areas: business models, stock-flow models, manufacturing industry.
• You should show a strong interest in sustainability issues and global challenges like circular economy.
• You have a scientific, critical attitude and you are interested in interdisciplinary research.
• You should be a team player, taking initiative in the research, and having a strong interest and motivation to pursue academic and applied research. Experience as a researcher is welcome but not mandatory.
• You have good communication and presentation skills, proficient in English. Knowledge of Dutch is an asset.

Offer

We offer a research position for initially one year, extendable to a 4 year funded PhD after the first year given a positive evaluation, in a very attractive international research environment, with an excellent track record in sustainable materials management and environmental economics.

The position is promoted by Prof. Karel Van Acker (Faculty of Engineering Science, Department Materials Engineering and Faculty of Economics and Business, Centre for Economics and Corporate Sustainability). The research work will be carried out within the KU Leuven materials engineering department in Leuven. The job will include collaboration and information exchange with researchers from different disciplines and from industry. The project the researcher will work on is a granted Flanders Make project.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Karel Van Acker, mail: [e-mail].

The application deadline is 25 November 2026, but earlier applications are encouraged and will be considered as soon as they are received. The position can be closed earlier in case a suitable candidate has been found.

Interested Applicants Should Submit

• an up-to-date CV.
• a motivation letter with a statement of skills and research interests.
• a transcript of followed courses + grades.
• an English language certificate (IELTS or TOEFL), unless you are native Dutch or native English.

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.

• Sollicitatieprocedure
• Arbeidsvoorwaarden
• Loopbaanmogelijkheden

Heb je een vraag over de online sollicitatieprocedure? Raadpleeg onze veelgestelde vragen of stuur een e-mail naar [e-mail].