Doctoral Researcher, Strategic Business Development (H2Nexus Project)

The University of Vaasa is an inspiring and international community where we work together for a sustainable and responsible future. We combine expertise in business and technology in a unique way, tackling current challenges with determination and collaboration. As part of the Nordic regions largest energy technology hub, we promote sustainable business, energy, and society. We educate future professionals who will create a fairer and more sustainable world.

The University of Vaasa is seeking a motivated and talented Doctoral Researcher to join the Research Council of Finland-funded H2NEXUS project.

The position is full-time and fixed-term (3 years), aligned with the duration of the H2NEXUS project. The preferred start date is September 2026 or as agreed. The position is located in the School of Management in the Strategic Business Developmentresearch grouphttps://www.uwasa.fi/en/research/groups/public-policy-and-governance The position is located in Vaasa.

About the Project

The H2Nexus project investigates the co-evolution of markets and energy ecosystems, with a particular focus on the emergence of the hydrogen economy in Finland. The project enables a comprehensive understanding of the systemic change through a dual approach: combining techno-economic modelling with a theoretical lens that views markets as designed and evolving coordination systems.

The project explores how institutional work and market practices shape the development and stabilization of key components such as business model innovation, pricing mechanisms, and ecosystem governance. A central research objective is to analyze the conditions and mechanisms that enable or hinder the transition from early-stage development to more mature and institutionalized stages.

Quantitative and qualitative analyses will be integrated into this research, particularly to analyze the impacts of new hydrogen markets and regulations on both the overall energy system and business cases in some hard-to-abate sectors, such as the production of steel, fertilizers, shipping fuels, and aviation fuels. The research will incorporate project-level and system-level models for hydrogen and its derivatives, aligned with market-shaping theory.

The project will produce new knowledge on the clean hydrogen market from market-ecosystem, business case, and energy system perspectives, as well as relevant new datasets, modelling methods, and blueprints. The results can be directly utilized in the scientific community, but also to improve decision-making in the public and private sectors.

Your Role

You will play a key role in the project team and actively participate in the implementation of different activities within the research project. The role emphasizes the ability to conduct high-quality research and interact with different national and international stakeholders. Your work will contribute directly to project deliverables and high-quality academic publications.

Key Responsibilities in the position:

• Contribute to the projects activities.
• Conduct independent and collaborative research on ecosystem emergence, market shaping, and business model innovation.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary group of universities, research organisations, manufacturers, retailers, and civil society organisations.
• Participate in data collection (e.g., interviews, workshops, case studies), analysis, and validation activities with industry stakeholders and policy makers.
• Lead and co-author high-quality scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Support teaching or supervision tasks when applicable (according to university guidelines).
• Present research at academic conferences and project meetings.
• Produce a doctoral dissertation based on the research carried out within the project.

The position may also include other tasks to be agreed upon separately. All tasks are agreed in more detail in the Annual Work Plan. The annual working time is 1612 hours.

✅Requirements

A person who has completed a suitable higher university degree (see below) and is a doctoral student at the University of Vaasa can be selected for the position of Doctoral Researcher. We therefore expect the selected person to have the ability and motivation for doctoral studies and to complete a doctoral degree. The selected candidate needs to apply for doctoral studies through a separate application to the University of Vaasa's Graduate School | Read more about doctoral education, application and eligibility for studies.

Required:

• Masters degree in a relevant field of business studies, such as management, industrial management, B2B management, or a related field.
• Strong proven interest in the research area of the project.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Motivation to produce high-quality research outputs.

Desirable:

• Experience with qualitative or mixed methods research.
• Experience working with industry stakeholders.
• Experience related to the project's context, whether it be energy or even hydrogen.

Read more about the selection process and language policies: University of Vaasa (uwasa.fi)

🎁We offer

• A fully funded doctoral researcher position (3 years) aligned with a high-profile Research Council of Finland project.
• The selected applicant will be accepted into the University of Vaasas Doctoral Programme and will pursue their doctoral degree in Management after a separate application process.
• Opportunity to collaborate with leading experts across Europe.
• Training in doctoral research, methods, and professional skills.
• Access to industry cases, real-world data, and hands-on circular innovation activities.
• Supportive research environment within the University of Vaasas vibrant research community.

We promote the overall well-being of our employees at work by, among other things, offering fitness and cultural benefits, extensive occupational health care services, and versatile opportunities for continuous learning. F