PhD in Research in Information Systems and Business Analytics

Abstract

In today’s hyper-connected world, digital technologies are reshaping industries—from social media and mobile devices to the Internet of Things, smart cities, and connected vehicles. This digital transformation brings both new opportunities and significant challenges as companies adapt to shifting consumer demands. In our Ph.D. program in Information Systems, we equip you to conduct pioneering research, addressing these complex challenges that are shaping the digital society.

Our faculty engages in a wide array of cutting-edge projects, including digital platforms, circular and digital business models, energy digitalization and informatics, data markets, recommendation systems, social networks, online privacy and piracy, AI ethics, and the future of AI in business. As a Ph.D. student, you will have the chance to contribute to these impactful areas, developing solutions that shape tomorrow’s digital landscape.

We seek highly motivated candidates with a strong academic record and a passion for interdisciplinary research on critical issues at the intersection of information technology and management. As a member of the Business Information Management (BIM) section within the Department of Technology & Operations Management at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, you will be part of a vibrant academic community.

Applicants should have robust quantitative skills, ideally holding an MSc, MPhil, or Research Master in fields like economics, computer science, econometrics, or statistics. Proficiency in programming languages such as R, SQL, or Python is expected. We are particularly interested in candidates with a clear ambition to pursue an academic career after completing their Ph.D.

Throughout your Ph.D. journey, you will receive rigorous training through coursework in information systems, economics, econometrics, machine learning, and large-scale data analytics. Working closely with your advisors, you will define, develop, and execute original research projects. The dissertation, guided by your unique interests and insights, will require creativity, self-direction, and a deep commitment to advancing scientific knowledge. Join us and become a young scholar in shaping the future of the digital world.

Keywords

Artificial intelligence, business analytics, information strategy, circular and digital platforms, energy informatics, data markets, AI and ethics, and economics of information systems

Topic

The Ph.D. student will develop research topics in close collaboration with their advisors, who consist of full professors (promotors) and associate/assistant professors (daily supervisors).

Promoters: Prof. Ting Li and Prof. Eric van Heck. Prof. Ting Li is a professor of digital business and focuses on studying the economic impacts of digitization on consumer behavior and firm strategy. She is an expert in digitization and platforms, personalization, e-commerce, social media analytics, mobile marketing, and pricing and revenue management. Prof. Eric van Heck is a professor in information management and markets and an expert in digital market and enterprise architecture, big data and analytics, digital work, and energy markets. 

Collaborative Opportunities: Depending on the research topics, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with other BIM faculty who are working on a diverse range of interdisciplinary research topics, such as energy digitalization and decarbonization (Dr. Yashar Ghiassi-Farrohfal), digital marketing and recommendation (Dr. Dimitrios Tsekouras, Dr. Yagmur Ozdemir), data markets (Dr. Sameer Mehta), social networks (Dr. Rodrigo Belo, Dr. Anna Priante, Dr. Olga Slivko), platform economy (Dr. Jovana Karanovic), sports analytics and algorithmic accountability (Dr. Otto Koppius), crowdfunding and digital platforms (Dr. Philipp Cornelius, Dr. Dainis Zegners), user-generated content (Dr. Dominik Gutt), human-computer interaction (Dr. Jie Tang), and open science (Dr. Jeffrey Sweeny).

For more details on the BIM faculty and research topics, visit our website:

https://www.rsm.nl/research/departments/technology-and-operations-management/business-information/.

Ph.D. Role and Research Approach: During the Ph.D., you will work closely with advisors to:

• Identify a meaningful research phenomenon relevant to managers or policymakers that has not been fully explored in prior studies.
• Gather primary or secondary data necessary to understand this phenomenon better.
• Leverage the scientific literature to establish and examine the theoretical foundations.
• Define key variables and relationships, formalizing them mathematically and aligning them with data.
• Recognize the primary assumptions required to solve or estimate the model and assess their implications.
• Develop methodologies to extract insights and results from the data.
• Present findings at national and international conferences.
• Prepare research outcomes for publication in leading scientific journals, and ultimately, your dissertation.

You will benefit from our robust industry ties, access to institutional databases, and software development support. This will enable you to work with large-scale datasets and conduct real-world field experiments.

Organization

The BIM section of the Department of Technology & Operations Management at RSM is globally recognized and known for its multi- and interdisciplinary approach, publishing research in top information systems and management journals. The section is a vibrant, intellectually stimulating environment for research, with a diverse, young, and highly international faculty.

With 16 research-active faculty members educated at prestigious institutions in Europe, the USA, and Asia, the BIM section offers a strong tradition of research and teaching, with a global perspective.

BIM offers a high-profile MSc Business Information Management, one of Europe’s largest master's programmes in Information Systems, enrolling over 250 students annually. The program provides deep theoretical and practical knowledge. In 2020, we launched the Master of Business Analytics & Management program, further expanding our offerings.

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is one of Europe’s top business schools, known for pioneering research and education that advances excellence in management. Located in the international port city of Rotterdam—a hub for business, logistics, and trade—RSM is committed to shaping leaders with an innovative mindset who are prepared to drive positive change towards a sustainable future. Our range of bachelor's, master's, MBA, Ph.D., and executive programs are designed to foster critical, creative, and collaborative thinkers and doers.

Please visit our website for more information:

• RSM: www.rsm.nl
• Department of Technology & Operations Management: www.rsm.nl/research/departments/technology-and-operations-management
• MSc Business Information Management: www.rsm.nl/bim
• Erasmus Research Institute and Management: www.erim.eur.nl

Approach

As a Ph.D. student, you will gain the skills and experience needed to conduct independent research through a combination of coursework in information systems, economics, econometrics, machine learning, and large-scale data analytics. You will engage in both applied and theoretical research under the guidance of our expert faculty. The focus of your Ph.D. dissertation will be shaped by your own interests, with input from your advisors, fostering creativity, self-direction, and a passion for scientific inquiry.

Coursework: The core curriculum is designed to develop your methodological skills, modeling capabilities, and in-depth subject knowledge. During your first and second years, you will take courses offered by the Tinbergen Institute (http://www.tinbergen.nl), ERIM (https://www.erim.eur.nl/), and other research institutes. These courses cover essential topics for understanding the economics of information systems and business analytics, including microeconomics (individual choice, aggregate supply and demand, equilibrium), econometrics (endogenous variables, choice modeling), statistics and probability, Bayesian modeling, machine learning, and deep learning.

Research seminars. We host weekly BIM research seminars (www.erim.eur.nl/research/events/research-seminars) featuring leading scholars who share their insights on the latest research trends from top institutions worldwide. These seminars offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in mainstream research, explore critical methodological challenges, and engage with emerging perspectives from scholars and journal editors, providing a strong foundation for your academic career.

Research environment. Our interdisciplinary Ph.D. program offers exceptional training for conducting groundbreaking research in Information Systems. Alongside rigorous technical training in quantitative methods, you will gain a deep understanding of behavioral mechanisms that shape decision-making through interactions with faculty who specialize in experimental studies. While your primary focus may be on analyzing field data, you will also have access to the Erasmus Behavioral Lab. This state-of-the-art facility supports world-class research on consumer behavior, offering cubicles, group labs, video labs, eye tracking, and EEG technology.

This environment is designed to provide you with the tools and mentorship needed to excel in academic research and contribute to the field of Information Systems.

Required profile

We seek candidates who have:

• A passion for understanding the impact of digital technologies on individuals, organizations, markets, system design, public policy, and society.
• Enthusiasm for quantitative analysis, data, programming, and scientific inquiry.
• Proven experience in conducting and completing research projects.
• MSc or MPhil in Econometrics, Statistics, Computer Science, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Experience in developing and estimating econometric or statistical models using R, SAS, Stata, or Python.
• Strong programming skills, especially experience in scraping structured web content (HTML, XPATH, CSS).
• Openness, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to learn and adapt.
• Ambition to pursue an academic career as a leading researcher and educator.
• Motivation to independently formulate and carry out research projects, aiming for publication in top-tier journals.
• Eagerness to explore and answer novel research questions.
• Experience in writing and publishing scientific papers.

Required by ERIM

All application documents required by ERIM can be found here.

For questions regarding the formal admission requirements, please contact the ERIM doctoral office: phdadmissions@erim.eur.nl.  

Expected output

Scholar publications. As a Ph.D. student, you will develop research papers aimed at publication in top-tier information systems and management journals, such as Management Science, MIS Quarterly, and Information Systems Research. The BIM faculty at RSM has a strong track record of publishing in these leading journals, providing a solid foundation for your research. Your final Ph.D. results will also be compiled into a dissertation, and most BIM Ph.D. students successfully publish multiple papers in these prestigious outlets.

Placement record. Over the past years, our graduates have secured faculty positions at top business schools worldwide, including MIT, Northwestern University, George Washington University, Copenhagen Business School, IE Business School, University of Amsterdam, and VU Amsterdam.

Cooperation

To enhance your international profile, we strongly encourage our Ph.D. students to undertake a research visit at one of the top universities for 3 to 6 months during their third or fourth year. Previous students have visited renowned institutions such as MIT, the University of Maryland, the University of Minnesota, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of California, Berkeley.

Employment conditions

ERIM offers fully-funded and salaried PhD positions, which means that accepted PhD candidates become employees (promovendi) of Erasmus University Rotterdam. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO).

Erasmus University Rotterdam aspires to be an equitable and inclusive community. We nurture an open culture, where everyone is supported to fulfil their full potential. We see inclusivity of talent as the basis of our successes, and the diversity of perspectives and people as a highly valued outcome. EUR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, functional impairment, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Contact information

For questions regarding the PhD application and selection procedure, please check the Admissions or send us an e-mail via phdadmissions@erim.eur.nl.