You will join the dynamic and inspiring Department of Work and Organisation Studies (WOS), an interdisciplinary research group of approximately 50 researchers who study the world of work from diverse scientific perspectives. WOS conducts internationally recognized research on topics such as the role of organizations in society, careers and sustainable employability, well-being and quality of work, HRM, leadership and organizational behavior. As a researcher, you will work in a stimulating academic environment where collaboration, scientific excellence, and societal impact are central. The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) has campuses in Leuven, Antwerp, Brussels and Kortrijk. Together, these vibrant cities form a unique research environment in the heart of Europe. This PhD position is linked to our Leuven and Antwerp campuses. KU Leuven ranks among Europe’s leading research universities and is globally recognized for its scientific impact and innovative strength. The university has repeatedly been named one of Europe’s most innovative universities and offers researchers an excellent environment in which to further develop their academic careers. More information can be found on the WOS website:
Website unit
Project
How Algorithms Shape Our Ideas of Healthy and Productive Work:
Digital technologies are playing an increasingly important role in the workplace. Employers are making growing use of algorithms and wearable technologies (such as smartwatches and other wearables) to organize work, monitor performance, and support employees’ health and well-being.
Advocates view these technologies as a way to make employees healthier, happier, and more productive. At the same time, this development raises important questions. What does it mean when technology not only organizes our work but also influences ideas about what constitutes a “good” or “healthy” employee? Who determines what well-being at work means? And how do employees experience these new expectations?
This PhD project draws on critical theories to investigate how emerging technologies are shaping the future of work and well-being. It examines how technology companies and organizations present these innovations, how they contribute to the creation of new and potentially exclusionary norms of well-being, and how employees themselves perceive and respond to these developments.
A distinctive component of the project is the use of a theatre performance as a research tool. Through this performance, possible future scenarios involving technology, work, and well-being are brought to life, creating opportunities to engage employees in discussions about their expectations, concerns, and experiences.
Situated at the intersection of organization studies, critical theory, technology, work, and well-being, the project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to contemporary societal debates on the future of work.
This PhD project adopts a qualitative, critically analytical approach that:
• conceptualizes employee well-being as a structurally produced phenomenon rather than as an external or given condition;
• analyzes discourses surrounding algorithmic management and wearable technologies as practices that generate a new form of “ideal employee well-being”;
• investigates how this new form of “ideal employee well-being” may systematically exclude certain groups of people;
• creates space for the reformulation of discourses on digital technologies that are still evolving, by examining how these norms are experienced, contested, and reshaped in practice.
The project has a duration of four years, starting from the date of appointment.
Profile
• You graduated with strong academic results (Yearly exam results equaling 68% (honours) or more, at least twice, of which minimum once in the master’s degree);
• Final-year master's students are also encouraged to apply. Appointment is, however, contingent upon obtaining the required degree;
• You have an interest in scientific research and are motivated to pursue a PhD;
• You have experience with, or a strong interest in, qualitative research methods; experience with quantitative methods is a plus;
• You possess strong analytical skills and are curious, critical, and able to work independently;
• You communicate effectively, both in writing and orally;
• You have an excellent command of both spoken and written English and Dutch. Your proficiency in both languages enables you to independently conduct qualitative research, including carrying out interviews, conducting observations, analysing research data, and writing academic texts.
Offer
We offer a full-time appointment as a PhD scholarship holder in a stimulating environment. We will support you step by step in your development as a scientist, with a focus on conducting and publishing rigorous and transparent research that is relevant to practice. In addition, we support your personal development and offer opportunities to gain teaching experience. Educational support includes supervising bachelor's and/or master's theses, assisting with examinations, and supporting the preparation and delivery of courses.
Start date: from October 1, 2026, subject to approval by the doctoral committee (see https://admin.kuleuven.be/reglementen/en/education/phd-students/phdregulation-feb#autotoc-item-autotoc-3), for a period of four years (subject to a positive evaluation after 12 months). Your primary workplaces will be Leuven and Antwerp.
More information about working at KU Leuven can be found at: http://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/en/index.html
Interested?
For more information, please contact:
We would like to receive your application no later than August 17. We hope to find a candidate who can start in October. Do not hesitate to apply if you are currently completing your master's degree. Applications can only be submitted through the online application tool. Please include a motivation letter, CV, and a summary of your master's thesis. In your motivation letter, explain why you are interested in this position and provide examples demonstrating how you meet the required profile. Interviews will take place in Leuven during the second half of August or the first week of September. The selection follows shortly.
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.
