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Research

Investing in Knowledge Production

There are still many, many things we do not know about how taking a more sustainable approach to business can lead to better financial, social, and environmental outcomes for a wider range of stakeholders. We aspire to make the Center for Sustainable Business a world-renowned hub for applied research in the field of sustainable business models.

As such, we embrace opportunities to partner with sponsor companies on applied research that addresses sustainability-related concerns they are facing in real time. Through sponsorship of the Center, companies have opportunities to participate in collaborative research on sustainability, as well as access to cutting-edge research on sustainable business strategy from around the world. Some examples of how sponsor companies benefit from the research programs offered through the Center include:

  • Engaging in semester-long applied research projects with small teams of MBA students on topics chosen by the company.
  • Collaborating with faculty and staff on long-term applied research projects.
  • Participating in in-depth case studies to gain industry and academic exposure for special initiatives or projects related to sustainability.
  • Sponsoring grant competitions for faculty, staff, and students to conduct original research on topics related to sustainable business strategy.
  • Co-authoring or participating as the subject or fiscal sponsor of academic or popular publications related to sustainability alongside Pitt faculty, staff, and/or students.
  • Receiving up-to-date information on the latest advancements in research in the field as curated by our researchers and staff members.
  • Building a reputation for investing in external partnerships to innovate around shared sustainability challenges.

We believe in the importance of partnership and collaboration that crosses disciplinary boundaries and engages corporate and non-corporate entities, students and experts, researchers and industry leaders, and academic as well as public and private institutional stakeholders (such as international organizations, non-profit organizations, governing bodies, elected officials, think tanks, and the foundation community). Because of this commitment to bringing various stakeholders together to solve shared challenges, we help facilitate relationships between our corporate sponsors and researchers across the University of Pittsburgh. In these efforts, our company sponsors benefit from the broad reach and diversity of research taking place at the University of Pittsburgh. As the home of the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, the recipient of numerous accolades for campus initiatives in sustainability, and an international reputation for excellence, we bring a strong foundation of institutional expertise to the table. We leverage these strengths within our community to bring added value to our partnerships with member companies.

 *The type of research-related engagement companies enjoy depends on their level of sponsorship.

Capitalizing on a Diverse Research Community

Sustainability research at the Center for Sustainable Business involves contributions from the accomplished faculty and staff of the Katz Graduate School and the College of Business Administration, as well as a broad network of scholars based in other departments and schools at the University of Pittsburgh. Read more about these faculty members and their research areas of expertise.

Elsewhere at Pitt, we engage with a large network of faculty and staff working on sustainability issues that have an economic or business strategy component. These partners help lead a wide range of sustainability-related programming for undergraduate and graduate students, conduct applied sustainability research in field settings, and help us build relationships with researchers working in industry, in other higher education settings, in government and the non-profit sector, and beyond. Read more about this diverse network of faculty and staff and their areas of expertise here.

Open Research Opportunities

Seeking a Research Fellow

The University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) School of Business and Prof. CB Bhattacharya, the H.J. Zoffer Chair in Sustainability and Ethics is seeking a research fellow based in Pittsburgh to serve as a key member of his research team. 
 
DESCRIPTION: 
 
The fellowship, funded by the Zoffer Chair via a grant from the Berg Foundation, is a two-year appointment that is renewable based on the candidate’s performance. The overarching goal of this position is to advance the understanding of sustainability and corporate responsibility in transforming business models within complex organizational environments. Expected start date is June 2022.
 
In addition to joining ongoing research activities examining sustainability and corporate responsibility, ethics and leadership, the Fellow will assist with the development of new research efforts, pedagogic material, and coordinate workshops. Prof. Bhattacharya founded the Center for Sustainable Business in October 2019, which has received more than $1 million in funding, and the Fellow will have many opportunities to work with the Center and the several companies (e.g., Accenture, Dick’s Sporting Goods, IBM, etc.) that support it. 
 
QUALIFICATIONS:
 
The candidate should preferably have finished their Ph.D. or in exceptional cases, completed their doctoral defense. The candidate’s doctorate can be in any relevant field with strong preference given to degrees in business management followed by the social sciences (sociology, psychology, political science, anthropology). Experience in and knowledge of sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and theories of ethics and leadership in business are required. As well, knowledge of research methods and sophisticated statistical techniques is a must. Emphasis is on the ability of the Fellow to collect and analyze data and create publication-ready manuscripts for key academic outlets. Candidates must have some experience in publishing and other research-related activities. Expected start date is June 2022. Salary range is $50,000 to $65,000 (depending on qualifications) plus full University of Pittsburgh benefits for the duration of employment.
 
The ideal candidate will help with all activities pertaining to publishing books and articles – e.g., literature reviews, popular press and sustainability report searches, data collection, data analysis, etc. I will also need help in preparing presentations, teaching material, grading, academic reviews and other activities germane to academic life. Overall, this is an ideal learning opportunity where the candidate will not only gain training and exposure to an exciting and increasingly important research field but also learn more about the joys and challenges of thriving in an academic environment. 

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

 
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until position filled or search closed. To be considered for this position, please submit a current curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, a writing sample, and contact information for three references to postdocsearch@katz.pitt.edu with Subject “Bhattacharya Research Fellow”.
The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets. 

 

Download the job description as a PDF.

Our Corporate Sponsors

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