Open Positions
PhD and Postdoc positions in Economics of Education and Labor/Personnel Economics
I am looking for a PhD student and a Postdoc to start in the first half of 2025 to work with me at the University of Zurich. The positions are within Economics of Education and Labor/Personnel Economics.
I have been appointed to start in February 2025 as an Associate Professor in the Chair of Business Economics, with a focus on Personnel Economics and Economics of (Vocational) Education at the Department of Business Administration at the University of Zurich. The positions are part of the chair. In the chair, we conduct cutting-edge research on topics within Economics of Education and Labor/Personnel Economics. We employ the newest empirical techniques for causal identification. In particular, we are currently conducting and planning field experiments (RCTs) in Switzerland and abroad.
Candidates must have some German knowledge.
The PhD student will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Business with good opportunities to interact with grad students from all departments at the Faculty of Business, Economics, and Informatics. You will be taking graduate courses in the doctoral program on Economics of Education in the Swiss Leading House VPET-ECON (https://www.educationeconomics.uzh.ch/en/international-course-program/courses.html) as well as have the opportunity to take other relevant graduate courses within the Faculty. The expected duration of the PhD is 4-5 years.
The Postdoc position is for three years with the possibility to extend it for a further three years upon mutual agreement. Candidates should hold (at the time of starting the position) a Ph.D. degree in Economics or a related quantitative field with a specialization in applied microeconomics. Preferably the candidate has a strong expertise in either applied microeconometric methods or in field experiments.
The ideal start of employment for both positions is February 1, 2025. However, we will allow for a later start date (September 1, 2025, at the latest). Applications should include a motivation letter, CV (including your level of German proficiency), an example of writing, and at least one letter of recommendation (letters of recommendation can be sent separately). Please send your application to Olga Ring (olga.ring@econ.uzh.ch). Interviews will be conducted on Zoom. The screening of applications will start on August 15, 2024. We welcome applications until the position is filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
For any questions about the positions, please contact me at anne.brenoe@econ.uzh.ch.
Research Assistant (40-100%)
Prof. Anne Brenøe (UZH) and Prof. Stefan Wolter (University of Bern) are looking for 3 (40-100%) research assistants to support a field experiment within economics of education.
Your responsibilities
Your task is to support a field experiment in the field of economics of education. The research project aims at improving students’ occupational choices after compulsory schooling. It is a joint project of the Universities of Zurich and Bern. You will help with the data collection primarily in schools across the Canton of Zurich, but potentially also from our office at UZH.
Your profile
- If applying for a 40-80% position: You are currently a bachelor or master student.
- If applying for a 100% position: You have finished your BA or MA degree and want some more exposure to research within social sciences.
- You are fluent in German (both written and spoken) and understand Swiss German well.
- You have good social and communication skills.
We offer
- The opportunity to acquire firsthand research experience that will be useful in both your studies and your professional life.
- The opportunity to collaborate on research projects that are innovative and highly relevant to current political debates.
- The opportunity to work in a motivated and young team.
- If you are an MA student or recently graduated with an MA in economics or a related field: The possibility to continue working as a full-time research assistant for or starting as a PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Anne Brenøe after the end of this position.
The start date is mid-August 2024, the position lasts until February or April 2025.
For further information please contact Thea Zöllner (thea.zoellner@unibe.ch).
Please send your application files (motivation letter, CV, grade transcript, list of weekdays you would be available to work) in English to olga.ring@econ.uzh.ch as soon as possible. We start reviewing the applications from June 24, 2024, and invite candidates for interviews until the positions are filled.