Yves Van Vaerenbergh

KU Leuven and the University of Melbourne are offering a fully funded joint PhD position on GenAI implementation in customer service. The project sits within the Department of Marketing at KU Leuven, an internationally recognized research group active in marketing modeling, marketing management and strategy, and consumer behavior. The research examines how generative AI technologies such as chatbots and virtual agents are reshaping customer service. A key focus is how organizations can use GenAI either to replace frontline employees or to support reskilling and upskilling for effective human-AI collaboration. The project aims to generate empirical evidence on the implications of these choices for firm value, employee roles and competencies, customer outcomes, and broader organizational performance. The PhD is jointly supervised by Professors Yves Van Vaerenbergh and Bart Larivière at KU Leuven, in close collaboration with Professor Liliana Bove at the University of Melbourne. The successful candidate will spend at least one year and up to two years in Melbourne, with the first and final year based at KU Leuven. Upon completion, the candidate receives a PhD degree from both KU Leuven and the University of Melbourne. The project combines multiple methodologies, including event studies, field studies, and advanced statistical analyses. It is well suited to candidates with strong quantitative training and an interest in marketing strategy, service research, and AI-enabled customer interactions. A background in Business Engineering, Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Quantitative Analysis, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field is preferred. Eligibility highlights include an excellent academic record, strong analytical skills, comfort working with large datasets, and excellent English communication skills. Affinity with qualitative research methods is considered an advantage. The candidate is expected to participate in seminars and conferences, enroll in KU Leuven’s PhD program in the Faculty of Economics and Business, assist in educational activities, and aim to publish in leading international journals. The position offers a full-time funded appointment for four years, subject to successful yearly evaluation, together with a competitive salary and standard doctoral researcher benefits under KU Leuven regulations. The intended starting date is December 1, 2026, or as soon as possible. Applications should include a motivation letter, CV, official transcripts of bachelor’s and master’s studies, and an optional writing sample. The deadline is 2026-08-05.

The Department of Marketing at KU Leuven is offering a full-time funded PhD position in Marketing Strategy within an internationally recognized research group. The department conducts rigorous and managerially relevant research across marketing modeling, marketing management and strategy, and consumer behavior, with staff based across the Antwerp, Brussels, and Leuven campuses. Its researchers publish in leading journals such as the Journal of Marketing , Journal of Marketing Research , Marketing Science , Journal of Consumer Research , Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science , Journal of Retailing , and Journal of Service Research . The PhD project focuses on Customer Success Management (CSM) and asks whether investments in CSM actually generate organizational value. The successful candidate will investigate questions such as whether implementing CSM creates value for firms, how investors react to CSM announcements, and whether CSM improves long-term financial performance. The project is designed to provide empirical evidence on the financial impact of customer success initiatives in an era where many organizations are shifting from product sales to subscription-based service models. The doctoral researcher will join the Department of Marketing at KU Leuven and work under the supervision of Prof. dr. Yves Van Vaerenbergh . The position offers a dynamic research environment, access to an extensive international academic network, collaboration opportunities with leading service organizations, and the possibility of international research stays depending on budget approval. Applicants should have a strong quantitative profile and a relevant master’s degree in Business Engineering, (Business) Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, Quantitative Analysis, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field. An excellent academic record is required, with results on average cum laude or higher. The candidate should have strong analytical skills, be comfortable working with large datasets and advanced statistical analyses, and have excellent English communication skills. The role also includes participation in the PhD program of the Faculty of Economics and Business, attendance at seminars and conferences, support for educational activities, and a clear ambition to publish in top international journals. The position is a 4-year funded PhD with yearly evaluation, competitive salary, and benefits according to KU Leuven regulations for doctoral researchers. The intended start date is December 1, 2026, or as soon as possible . Applications should include a motivation letter, CV, official transcripts for bachelor’s and master’s studies, and an optional writing sample such as a thesis or scientific paper. For more information, applicants may contact the supervisor by email and should include the vacancy number in their message.