Grigorios Theodosopoulos is a Professor of Accounting and Finance at Brunel Business School, Brunel University of London, where he leads the Accounting, Governance and Sustainability Innovation (AGSI) Research Group. His research explores how accounting can help organisations understand their business models, strengthen financial sustainability, and assess the social and environmental consequences of their activities. His interests also encompass sustainability reporting, and the implications of new technologies for accounting and finance. He is Project Coordinator and Brunel Principal Investigator for JUST-CIRCLE, a Horizon Europe Innovation Action supported by approximately €5 million in EU funding, bringing together 14 partners across nine countries. Building on his research on accounting for business models, the project connects financial viability with environmental performance, social value, and a fair transition to a circular economy. He is responsible for the consortium’s overall scientific, strategic, and operational coordination. His publications include work in Critical Perspectives on Accounting, Accounting Forum, Journal of Business Research, Meditari Accountancy Research, The Journal of Alternative Investments, and Studies in Higher Education. Grigorios is also Visiting Professor of Accounting at the Faculty of Business Administration in Foreign Languages (FABIZ), Bucharest University of Economic Studies, and a Research Associate at the University of Dundee. His previous leadership roles at Brunel Business School include Division Lead for Business Accounting, Director of Teaching and Learning, Director of Undergraduate Studies, and Director of Student Academic Misconduct. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Grigorios connects his research and professional experience with teaching that encourages critical thinking and professional judgement. His teaching incorporates authentic assessment, team-based learning, and the responsible use of generative AI, with an emphasis on evaluating evidence, applying knowledge, and reflecting on professional decisions. He has received several university awards for excellence in teaching and assessment. Grigorios joined Brunel in 2012, following academic appointments in accounting and finance at the University of Hertfordshire. His earlier experience includes work in accounting, commercial auditing and management, as well as, service as an artillery officer in the Hellenic Army.
JUST-CIRCLE is a European Commission-funded Horizon Europe Innovation Action project
This is led at Brunel Business School, Brunel University of London by Dr Grigorios Theodosopoulos. The project examines how circular business models can be designed, measured and advanced in ways that support a fair and sustainable transition.
This PhD studentship will focus on the accounting, accountability, stakeholder and social-value dimensions of circular business models. Circular economy policies and business models are often presented as environmentally beneficial, but their wider social, economic and accountability implications are harder to measure, evidence and validate. This creates important research questions around how circular business models can be assessed, how sustainability claims can be made credible, and how businesses, policymakers and stakeholders can use evidence to support a just circular transition.
The PhD will be aligned with the JUST-CIRCLE research programme and will contribute particularly to work on circular business model design, social innovation and stakeholder engagement, sustainability accounting and circularity assessment, pilot validation, and dissemination to policy and practice audiences. The successful candidate will develop academically rigorous and practically useful approaches for assessing circular business models and their contribution to sustainability, accountability and social value.
The project may address questions such as:
- How can circular business models be designed and assessed in ways that support a fair and sustainable transition?
- What forms of sustainability accounting, accountability and evidence are needed to validate circular business models?
- How do SMEs, consumers, communities and other stakeholders understand, trust and respond to circular business model claims?
- How can circular economy evidence be translated into useful guidance for businesses, policymakers and project partners?
The final focus of the PhD will be refined with the supervisory team and aligned with the JUST-CIRCLE work packages, pilot activities and project deliverables.
The project is suitable for candidates interested in sustainability accounting, circular economy, circular business models, ESG and sustainability reporting, social value, stakeholder engagement, sustainable innovation, accountability, or sustainable transition policy. The PhD is expected to use an interdisciplinary research design, potentially combining quantitative analysis with qualitative case study research, interviews, stakeholder engagement, documentary analysis, circular business model mapping, sustainability accounting and accountability analysis, and social-value or impact assessment. The successful candidate may contribution to project workshops, pilot activities and dissemination outputs as part of the wider JUST-CIRCLE consortium
Eligibility
Applicants should normally have a first or upper-second class honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline.
A master's degree in Accounting, Management, Sustainability, Business, Innovation, Circular Economy, Environmental Policy, Social Sciences or a related area would be an advantage.
Applicants with a lower-second class honours degree (2:1 ) may be considered where they also hold a relevant master's degree or can demonstrate equivalent relevant experience, subject to University admissions requirements. Previous experience of independent research, for example through an undergraduate or postgraduate dissertation, research project or thesis in a relevant area, would be desirable.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate an interest in one or more of the following areas: sustainability accounting and accountability; circular economy and circular business models; ESG or sustainability reporting; stakeholder engagement and social value; sustainable innovation and transition studies; quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods or case study research; and policy, business or impact-focused research.
Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, as the project will involve academic writing, engagement with project partners, and the Isolation of findings for non-academic audiences.
How to apply
Applicants should submit the following
- An up-to-date CV;
- A personal statement of 300 to 500 words explaining their background, skills, experience and interest in the studentship;
- A research proposal or statement of research interests of up to 1,200 words, linked to the project theme and including indicative research questions, proposed methods and relevant references;
- Undergraduate and postgraduate degree certificates and transcripts;
- Evidence of English language qualification, if applicable;•
- Contact details for two referees, one of whom may be a member of Brunel University of London academic staff.
Formal application enquiries should may be submitted directly as a single PDF by 12 noon on 28 August 2026 to studentships@brunel.ac.uk and grigorios.theodosopoulos@brunel.ac.uk