EconJobMarket®

Pre-Doctoral Program – Global Talent Common Application

Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Switzerland

The Department of Economics at the University of Zurich invites applications for pre-doc positions (1-2 years) for qualified applicants from low- and middle-income countries and/or with a refugee background (see below for details).

There are two application paths. Applicants should pursue both, they are not mutually exclusive.

• Common Application: First, qualified applicants from eligible backgrounds can apply through this common application process. This process will lead to a pool of finalists, from which professors can choose to hire pre-docs. This job posting refers to this path.
• Individual Postings: Second, many professors separately post job opportunities for their own pre-doc positions. These positions are open to all applicants, regardless of their origin or background. It is strongly recommended that interested candidates also apply directly through those postings.

What is the pre-doctoral research fellow’s role?

Pre-doctoral fellows work with a professor of the economics department to support their research, with substantive opportunities for on-the-job learning about academic research in economics. Pre-docs may be involved in all stages of research – brainstorming, literature reviews, project management, data analysis, and writing. The predoctoral position is a full-time in-person commitment (70% research, 30% on-the-job-learning).

The research fellow will become part of a vibrant community of predoctoral fellows at the department and of the wider research community at UZH. Predocs receive hands-on mentoring throughout. Previous pre-docs have worked, among others, with Professors Sandro Ambühl, Lorenzo Casaburi, Ana Costa-Ramon, David Dorn, Thomas Graeber, David Hémous, Mathias Hoffmann, Ronak Jain, Dina Pomeranz, Hans-Joachim Voth, David Yanagizawa-Drott and Ulf Zölitz.

Qualifications

The pre-doctoral positions are ideal for recent graduates who are interested in potentially going on to do a PhD in economics or a related field. We are looking for highly motivated candidates with strong quantitative, programming and analytical skills, and an interest in economic research. We particularly value curiosity, perseverance, and a demonstrated commitment to research and learning.

Specific requirements:

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree (in the last 5 years) with strong grades in economics or another quantitative social science field, including strong math skills;
• Strong knowledge of STATA, R or Python; familiarity with other statistical software or programming languages is a plus;
• Fluency in written and spoken English;
• Recommendation letter from 1-3 letter writers who are familiar with academic research (professor, research supervisor, or similar).

The following qualifications are not required, but represent a plus:

• Knowledge of causal inference research methods;
• Previous experience in research, e.g. as a research assistant or a research manager;
• Top of the class, high GRE Quant score, completed MITx MicroMasters courses;
• Proven ability to handle several different projects/tasks at one time, successfully complete tasks assigned, and meet deadlines

Eligibility

This common application is open to applicants who meet any of the following criteria

• Having grown up in a low- or lower-middle income country (based on this World Bank classification).
• Having grown up in an upper-middle income country and being a first-generation university student (i.e. parents did not go to university)
• Refugee/asylum/forced migration background (having experienced flight or having had a residence status of stateless, asylum seeker, humanitarian visas, or similar).

To confirm your eligibility, please refer to the Application Checklist.

No prior work permit for Switzerland is required.

How to Apply

Please apply online here: https://www.facultyhiring.oec.uzh.ch/position/53411840. Look for “Pre-Doctoral Program – Global Talent Common Application”.

Please note that in order to submit your application through the application form, you’ll need to answer all questions and upload all documents in one go (no intermediate saving possible). Thus, please look at this Application Checklist and prepare your documents and responses in advance so that they can be copy-pasted into the application form.

For any inquiry, please contact predoc@econ.uzh.ch

Country: Switzerland

Education: Bachelor's, Master’s

Start Date (Earliest): 1. March 2026

Start Date (Latest): 1. February 2027

Length of Commitment: One or two years

Language Requirement: English

Application Deadline: Rolling applications with evaluation in batches. The next deadline is January 31, 2026.

Deadline for recommendation letters: February 7, 2026.

To apply, visit https://www.facultyhiring.oec.uzh.ch/position/53411840. (See posting for details.)

Terms of Reference

Research Fellow at the National University of Laos (NUOL) and Royal University of Agriculture (RUA): evaluating the impact of digital e-auctions.

1. Background

This position is part of two collaborative research projects examining the role of digital e-auctions in improving agricultural market performance, with a focus on cattle markets in Lao PDR and Cambodia. The project is implemented through a partnership between Monash University, the National University of Laos (NUOL), in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The research combines platform development with rigorous empirical evaluation, including a clustered randomised controlled trial (RCT), detailed market monitoring, and household and value-chain surveys. The projects are funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) under the Social Systems program.

The Research Fellow will contribute to multiple components of the project during its initial 2 years, covering design, implementation, and early-stage analysis.

2. Objectives of the Position

The objective of this position is to support the implementation and analysis of the research project, with a focus on:

• Contributing to the design and implementation of field activities
• Supporting data collection and management
• Assisting in the development and refinement of the digital platform
• Contributing to preliminary empirical analysis and reporting

The role provides training and experience in applied development economics, field experiments, and digital innovation in agricultural markets.

3. Duration and Location

• Duration: 24 months, potentially renewable for up to 12 months
• Location: Based in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Start date: To be agreed
• Salary: To be agreed according to qualifications

The position requires extended periods of fieldwork in Lao PDR and, from mid-2026/early-2027, Cambodia.

4. Key Responsibilities

4.1 Research Design and Preparation

• Support the development of survey instruments (household, trader, and market surveys)
• Assist in the preparation of experimental protocols, including randomisation and sampling strategies
• Contribute to the preparation of pre-analysis plans and research documentation

4.2 Platform Development and Testing

• Support user engagement activities informing platform design
• Assist in pilot testing of the e-auction platform
• Document user feedback and contribute to iterative improvements
• Coordinate with technical partners on implementation issues

4.3 Field Implementation

• Support the organisation and delivery of training sessions for producers and traders
• Assist in the rollout of the platform across treatment areas
• Coordinate field teams involved in data collection
• Monitor implementation fidelity and troubleshoot operational challenges

4.4 Data Collection and Management

• Oversee and support survey implementation in collaboration with local teams
• Ensure data quality through spot checks, back-checks, and validation protocols
• Manage and document datasets, including merging survey and platform data
• Maintain clear data documentation and version control

4.5 Data Analysis and Reporting

• Conduct descriptive analysis of market, household, and platform data
• Support econometric analysis under the guidance of the research team
• Contribute to internal reports, policy briefs, and presentations
• Assist in the preparation of academic outputs

4.6 Stakeholder Engagement

• Support engagement with government agencies and local stakeholders
• Contribute to the organisation of workshops and dissemination events
• Facilitate communication between research partners and field actors

5. Deliverables

• Cleaned and documented datasets
• Contributions to survey instruments and experimental protocols
• Field implementation reports
• Analytical memos and preliminary results
• Contributions to policy briefs and research outputs

6. Reporting and Supervision

The Research Fellow will be supervised by Chitpasong Kousonsavath (NUOL), who will provide day-to-day guidance. Chitpasong Kousonsavath will also provide oversight of field-based activities and implementation in Lao PDR. Lyda Hok (RUA) will provide oversight of field-based activities and implementation in Cambodia.

The Fellow will also work closely with the broader project team, including Paulo Santos, Arthur Campbell, and Simon Wilkie, who will contribute to research design, methodological guidance, and analytical support.

7. Required Qualifications and Skills

Essential

• Undergraduate or Master’s degree in economics, development studies, statistics, or a related field
• Strong quantitative skills and familiarity with statistical software (e.g. Stata, R, or Python)
• Interest in development economics and field-based research
• Ability to work independently in a field setting
• Strong organisational skills
• Strong communication skills in English

Desirable

• Experience with survey design and fieldwork in developing country contexts is highly desirable
• Familiarity with experimental or quasi-experimental methods
• Experience working with large datasets
• Exposure to digital platforms or technology-enabled interventions
• Knowledge of Lao PDR or Cambodia context
• Knowledge of Lao or Khmer

8. Learning and Professional Development

While offering multiple opportunities for professional development for a candidate interested in a career in development, the position is particularly adequate as a pre-doctoral role. The position will provide:

• Hands-on experience in the design and implementation of an RCT
• Exposure to interdisciplinary work linking economics and digital systems
• Opportunities to contribute to academic research and policy engagement
• Mentorship from researchers across partner institutions

9. Selection Criteria

Candidates will be assessed based on:

• Academic background and quantitative skills
• Relevant field experience
• Relevant research experience
• Motivation and interest in the project
• Ability to work in collaborative and field-based environments

10. Ethical Considerations

The Research Fellow will be expected to adhere to all ethical protocols governing data collection, informed consent, and data management, in line with institutional and national requirements.