Business Models for Digital Trust.
Job description
What are acceptable business models for digital trust platforms? Digital identity is essential for the digital economy. While technologies and regulations for digital identity are now emerging, business models are still missing. Those business models should provide fair compensations to identity providers. They need to be scalable, because only then the digital identity solutions create impact. But we should avoid business models that create big tech-alike monopolies or have perverse incentives that create huge costs.
As part of the NWO-funded project ‘Sum Volo Satis Facio’, TU Delft is seeking a PhD candidate to work at the frontiers of digital trust. This position has the specific focus on business models for digital identity platforms. As part of a team, you will help bridge the gap between high-level regulations (like eIDAS) and the practical, technical architectures required to make digital interactions secure and scalable. You will be part of a multi-helix innovation coalition of 14 public, private and academic partners, including Digicampus. Together, these partners provide the socio-technical components (data registries, wallets, cryptographic infrastructure) and interdisciplinary knowledge (socio-technical and innovation methods) needed to deliver breakthroughs in the adoption of digital wallets and attestations. Your research will be pioneering work on the cross-roads of business models and digital identity. You will examine fair and acceptable business models for platforms that provide identity attestations. Such identity information is essential for a digital economy that actors can trust in. Fair compensation is needed such that identity platforms become available in the market, but without perverse incentives that lead to high societal costs. You will be working with leading academics, domain experts, engineers and digital trust professionals.
This PhD position is aimed at candidates with a Master’s degree in business, information systems, data science, computer science, or related fields, with a strong interest in the topic of digital trust or digital infrastructures. The successful candidate will be based at the Department of Engineering Systems and Services (ESS) at the Delft University of Technology under the supervision of Prof.dr.ir. Nitesh Bharosa and Prof.dr.ir. Mark de Reuver.
Job requirements
We are looking for a candidate who thrives at the intersection of technology and business model innovation.
- Education: a master’s degree in Information Systems, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Business, Management of Technology or a related field.
- Interest: a strong passion for digital trust, business models and digital platforms.
- Skills: ability to look beyond scientific boundaries, engage with diverse stakeholders, and translate complex legal/societal needs into technical requirements.
- Mindset: proactive, collaborative, and driven by the desire to create real-world societal impact.
- Language: proficiency in Dutch and English.
- Location: Delft and The Hague.
Given that the PhD wil operate in a Dutch speaking team on topic that requires knowledge of Dutch policies, proficiancy in Dutch is a requirement for this position.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.
At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.
Challenge. Change. Impact
Faculty Technology, Policy & Management
The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.
Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.
Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.
The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.
Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.
Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact prof.dr.ir. Mark de Reuver: G.A.deReuver@tudelft.nl.
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 24 May 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
- CV.
- Motivational letter.
- Master Thesis Manuscript and degrees.
You can address your application to Prof.dr.ir. Nitesh Bharosa and Prof.dr.ir. Mark de Reuver.
Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.
Please note:
- You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
- As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
- Please do not contact us for unsolicited services
