Imperial College Business School wishes to recruit a Research Associate in its Department of Innovation & Entrepreneurship to work with Dr Anne ter Wal on a research programme funded by the European Research Council (ERC). The research programme is titled "Networking for innovation: how entrepreneurs' network behaviour helps clusters to innovate".
The objective of the research programme is to develop a network behavioural approach to innovation in entrepreneurial clusters. The research programme seeks to understand the network building and network mobilization behaviours of entrepreneurs. The research will investigate how within-cluster variation in entrepreneurs' innovation performance may originate in differences in these behaviours and how between-cluster variation in performance may originate in the spread of effective network behaviours within but not between clusters.
Data collection of the programme will include granular qualitative and quantitative data of network behaviours through interviews, multi-wave surveys and online network monitoring tools to unveil how entrepreneurs decide which ties to build and which ones to call on in specific situations. Large-scale econometric analyses as well social science experiments will be used to assess how these behaviours enable or constrain entrepreneurs and – in aggregate – clusters to innovate.
The successful candidate will play a leading role in the research design, data collection, and data analysis of specific elements of the research programme. The post holder will also be expected to contribute to developing the theoretical underpinnings of the research programme and to the write-up of research findings in academic articles in top-tier management, innovation/entrepreneurship and economic geography journals. The post holder will be expected to work closely with other team members.
The successful candidate will have a PhD in management, innovation studies, geography, sociology, economics, psychology or related subjects, a strong command of relevant research methods and a keen interest in the role of social networks in innovation and entrepreneurship.
The successful candidate will a play significant role in a growing research group, be highly motivated, and show strong teamwork and organisational skills. We offer a rich, lively and supportive environment in which successful candidates will be expected to work on a specific project but will also have opportunities to realize their broader potential, for example, by pursuing publication of research from their doctoral studies.