Research at EBS
Research at EBS is built on the idea that strong education starts with strong research. It focuses on understanding how business, management, and entrepreneurship evolve, and turning these insights into knowledge that can be applied in practice.
By bringing together research, teaching, and collaboration, EBS contributes to the development of responsible leaders and innovative organisations, both in Estonia and internationally.
Knowledge Teams
Research in Practice at EBS
Research at EBS is organised through Knowledge Teams that bring together lecturers, researchers, and doctoral students to explore and understand the intersections of management, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Working collaboratively across academic levels and disciplines, the teams connect strategic leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, innovative practice, and transformative learning.
The work of each Knowledge Team is grounded in both academic rigour and practical relevance. The teams develop forward-looking initiatives that help individuals and organisations learn, grow, and lead change.
A Knowledge Team is a community where management meets innovation, and education fuels entrepreneurship — a collective of people dedicated to visionary academic work and creating sustainable societal impact.
How does a Knowledge Team operate?
A Knowledge Team functions as an organisational unit within EBS.
All faculty members — regardless of additional roles (such as Programme Director, Project Manager, etc.) — are considered resources reporting to the Head of the respective Knowledge Team.
The team’s resources are funded based on the distribution of workload between teaching and research activities.
Main responsibilities of the Knowledge Team:
- Allocation of teaching resources across all degree programmes
- Allocation of supervision resources across all programmes
- Securing additional funding through research or collaboration projects
- Developing the team’s competencies based on programme needs
Principles of resource allocation:
- Programme Directors design and develop curricula and define teaching and supervision needs
- These needs are communicated to the Knowledge Team, which assigns the appropriate resources
- The Knowledge Team may propose the involvement of internal or external experts where relevant
Junior Research Fellow Position
When applying to EBS to become a PhD student, you also have the opportunity to become a Junior Research Fellow (JRF). JRFs are selected by the EBS Research and Development Committee, are employed by EBS and work as part of a research group on a specific priority topic (see below for 2026 research calls).
These positions are financed either by EBS or external funding (or a combination of both). The JRF is, therefore, both enrolled into the PhD programme and employed by EBS. As an employee, a JRF is provided with a workplace and a competitive salary while also being provided with teaching and supervision as a PhD student.
This scholarship and position include an obligation to contribute to teaching and other core activities of the university. The duration of the employment is four years (reflecting the nominal PhD study period), with flexibility depending on individual circumstances. JRF positions are limited and offered to exceptional PhD candidates with a similar vision to fit the EBS academic faculty.
Are full time (40h/pw) or part-time based on individual circumstances.
- Monthly salary up to 2500-3000€.
- Expect active involvement in the research programme and department.
- Are based at the EBS Tallinn Campus in Estonia.
- Have an application deadline May 1st (non-EU) 2026, or August 1st 2026.
- Research fellow selection and offers will be completed by September 15th.
- Start in September 2026
- Development and implementation of an independent research and application agenda related to the candidate’s PhD project
- Close collaboration with the candidate’s supervisor(s) and project team
- Contributing to a number of different projects related to the candidate’s field of activity
- Publishing academic outputs
- Teaching or assisting in teaching activities (including supervision of thesis) in courses related to the candidate’s field of study
- Other relevant activities
Not sure how and where to get started? Please contact us: doctoral@ebs.ee