Postdoctoral Researcher on Trust & Governance in Digital Product Passport Ecosystems
Are you fascinated by how trust shapes collaboration in complex digital ecosystems? Join an interdisciplinary research team exploring how trust can be developed, governed, and sustained within Digital Product Passport initiatives involving diverse stakeholders—from industry to regulators and consumers.
In this role, you will investigate how trust can act as a key organizing principle for successful and sustainable Digital Product Passport ecosystems.
This fully funded 3-year Postdoctoral Researcher position is part of the project TRUPASS, funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The vision of TruPASS is that Digital Product Passports (DPPs) not only serve as a trusted technological artifact but, through their use and technological functioning, enable trust as a shared organizing principle amongst the ecosystem stakeholders.
We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join our interdisciplinary research team and examine how trust interacts with (structural) governance principles, ecosystem properties, and stakeholder expectations/behaviour, amongst others. You will map ecosystems relationships through trust mapping and stakeholder analysis, using methods such as literature review, qualitative interviews, and network analysis to identify key actors, trust flows, and governance dynamics.
Building on these insights and those from Engineering sciences also involved in TRUPASS, you will help develop and validate a Trust Strategy Framework through industry case studies and stakeholder engagement. The research will generate empirically grounded insights and strategies to support trustworthy data exchange and effective collaboration in emerging DPP ecosystems.
The position offers the opportunity to conduct high-impact research at the intersection of digital innovation, governance, and sustainability, while contributing to top-tier academic publications and collaborative research activities.
Information and application
Are you interested in this position? Please submit your application via the “Apply now” button by 30 May 2026 and include:
- A motivation letter explaining your interest in the position and how your skills and background relate to the research project;
- A full Curriculum Vitae, including your publications/work in progress and relevant work experience, demonstrating how your profile fits the requirements of the position;
- One publication or writing sample you are particularly proud of;
- Contact information for two academic references, preferably including your PhD supervisor, who may be contacted during the selection process;
- The first round of interviews is expected to take place in the first two weeks of June 2026.
The preferred starting date for the position is September 2026.
For more information regarding this position, you are welcome to contact Dr. Simon Schafheitle (s.d.schafheitle@utwente.nl)
Screening is part of the selection process.
About the department
The HBE department aims to build an encouraging work environment. We provide equal opportunities to all job applicants. Our selection process is based solely on competence and ability. We also offer flexible working conditions on an individual basis to promote work-life balance, which may include employment contracts, working hours, location, or childcare arrangements.
About the organisation
At the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS), we unite the worlds of people and technology to address today’s complex societal challenges. We are passionate about understanding human behaviour, fostering responsible innovation, and designing solutions that create societal value. Our educational programmes span disciplines such as Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Philosophy, Educational Sciences, and Health Sciences. Through our bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Professional Learning & Development programmes, and interdisciplinary research themes – including Emerging Technologies & Societal Transformations, Resilience, Smart Industry, Learning, and Health – we empower students and researchers to make a positive societal impact.
At BMS, we combine critical thinking with practical action. From advancing sustainable mobility with innovations like the world’s most efficient hydrogen car to shaping policies that promote digital inclusion, our work contributes to a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable future. Whether it’s exploring how technology influences human behaviour or leveraging data and innovation to transform industries and communities, we ensure that technology serves people – and not the other way around.
As an employer, BMS offers a vibrant, inclusive, and entrepreneurial environment where you can thrive personally and professionally. Join us and become part of a forward-thinking community that equips you to shape the future – for yourself and society. With us, you will become part of a leading technical university with increasing, positive social impact.
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