EJM logo EconJobMarket®

Research Assistantships, Pre-Docs, and Doctoral Fellowships/Studentships

Go to Regular positions
Advanced search
7 positions found     Log in to see all active positions and links to maps, to submit an application, and for a better user experience.
(log in to see more)
Ad title
Employer
Position type, field
Posted from, to
ad opens target date for applications* deadline for applications ad display ends

*Date by which applications should be submitted to be given full consideration by recruiter (e.g. date recruiter will start reviewing applications and selecting applicants for interview).

All dates and times are UTC. When this page was loaded, the time was 2026-02-13 19:31 UTC.


Zürich, Switzerland
Flexible start date. Duration: 2 years
Department of Economics www
University of Zurich www
Research Assistant (Pre-Doc)
Any field
20 Dec 2025
31 Jan 2026
19 Dec 2026

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.)

Location of job: Schönberggasse 1, Zürich, 8001, Switzerland
Degree required: Bachelors
Job start date: Flexible
Job duration: 2 years
Letters of reference required: 1
Interviews: Interviews will be conducted remotely by video starting February, 2026.

Austin, United States
Starts 2026-07-01. Duration: 1 year
Economics www
University of Texas at Austin www
Research Assistant (Pre-Doc)
Macroeconomics; Monetary
19 Nov 2025
1 Dec 2025
31 Mar 2026
31 Mar 2026

The University of Texas, Department of Economics is hiring two full-time Predoctoral Fellows to start in the Summer of 2026 to work with The Empirical Macroeconomics Policy Center of Texas (EMPCT). EMPCT is dedicated to promoting, supporting and diffusing empirical macroeconomic research that speaks directly to important policy questions. Fellows will work under the direction of Professors Coibion, Pandalai-Nayar, Boehm, Bhattarai, Drenik, Pfaeuti and other macro faculty. The fellowship will include tasks that provide preparation for graduate school, such as analyzing data, developing statistical models, creating presentations, and editing research papers. Fellows will interact regularly with professors and their collaborators, participate in meetings, attend seminars and other department events.

As an organization focused on economic mobility, EMPCT values the many backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences in our community. We welcome applications from U.S. based and international students. Through UT’s International Office, we are able to assist with J-1 and J-2 Visa applications. Applicants should be completing (or have completed) a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, have strong quantitative skills, and experience with empirical research methods. Candidates with research experience are strongly preferred, especially those with programming experience in Stata, SAS, R, Matlab and/or Python.

To apply, visit https://www.aeaweb.org/joe/listing.php?JOE_ID=111476773. (See posting for details.)

Location of job: UT Austin, Austin, United States
Degree required: Masters
Job start date: 2026-07-01
Job duration: 1 year
Salary: 70,000 USD
Letters of reference required: 2
Interviews: Interviews will be conducted remotely by video starting January, 2026.

Bonn, Germany
Flexible start date. Duration: 3 years
Department of Economics www
University of Bonn www
Postdoctoral Scholar  •  Research Assistant
Microeconomic theory
1 Nov 2025
1 Dec 2025
28 Feb 2026
28 Feb 2026

The Institute for Microeconomics at the Department of Economics at the University of Bonn is recruiting postdoctoral researchers in microeconomic theory. The appointments will be for three years, starting in Fall 2026 or earlier.

The successful candidates will join an international team of researchers at the Department of Economics at the University of Bonn. The microeconomic theory group at the University of Bonn consists of 12 faculty members and a dynamic group of postdocs. It runs a weekly seminar series with international visitors, a weekly lunch seminar with internal speakers, and regularly organizes international workshops.

German language skills are not required. The position comes with teaching obligations (which can be fulfilled in English). Salaries are regulated by the German Higher Education Law and set according to the E13 TV-L scheme. A generous research budget is available. Additional funds for research visits, conference travel, and research assistance are available.

Requirements for a postdoctoral researcher are a Ph.D. in economics or related fields and a publishing record or evidence of potential to publish in leading journals. Applications from candidates working at the intersection of economics and theoretical computer science are also welcome.

Please, apply for this position via EconJobMarket. Generally, the application should include the usual material (cover letter, CV, job market paper, and at least two reference letters). Applications without formal reference letters can be considered if explained in detail in the cover letter.

Applications will be reviewed starting December 1st until the position is filled. Interview invitations will be sent out in early to mid-January, and interviews will take place in mid-January. For inquiries, please contact Prof. Mengxi Zhang (mzhang@uni-bonn.de).

The University of Bonn promotes diversity among its members. It is certified as a family-oriented university and has a dual career program. Its aim is to increase the proportion of women in scientific staff and to promote their careers in particular. It therefore urges qualified women to apply. Applications are dealt with in accordance with the equal opportunity legislation. Likewise, the University encourages suitable people with proven impairment to apply.

To apply for this position, log in and choose your Applicant role (or, if you have no account, create one).
Location of job: Adenauerallee 24-42, Bonn, 53113, Germany
Degree required: Doctorate
Job start date: Flexible
Job duration: 3 years
Letters of reference required: 2
Application deadline: 28 Feb 2026 midnight UTC

Zürich, Switzerland
Flexible start date. Duration: 2 years
Department of Economics www
University of Zurich www
Research Assistant (Pre-Doc)
Development; Growth
18 Dec 2025
31 Jan 2026
28 Feb 2026

The Department of Economics at the University of Zurich invites applications for pre-doc positions (1-2 years) to work in Prof. Lorenzo Casaburi’s research team.

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 predoctoral fellow will become part of a team working on several projects in economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on land markets and rural finance. The projects are based on field experiments and on the analysis of administrative databases.

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. We will consider applicants from any background.

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;
  • Confidential 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.

No prior work permit for Switzerland is required.

How to Apply

Please apply online here: https://www.facultyhiring.oec.uzh.ch/position/54394880

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 natascha.baer@econ.uzh.ch

Country: Switzerland

Education: Bachelor's, Master’s

Start Date (Earliest): 1. May 2026

Start Date (Latest): 1. September 2025

Length of Commitment: One or two years

Language Requirement: English

Application Deadline: January 31, 2026 (review of applications starts on January 20, 2026)

To apply, visit https://www.facultyhiring.oec.uzh.ch/positiondetails/54394880. (See posting for details.)

Location of job: Schönberggasse 1, Zürich, 8001, Switzerland
Degree required: Bachelors
Job start date: Flexible
Job duration: 2 years
Letters of reference required: 1
Interviews: Interviews will be conducted remotely by video starting February, 2026.

Vienna, Austria
Starts 2026-09-01. Duration: 4 years
Economics www
Vienna University of Economics and Business www
Doctoral student
Any field
28 Jan 2026
25 Feb 2026
25 Feb 2026

You want to understand how things are connected and make a fundamental impact? We offer an environment where you can realize your full potential. At one of Europe’s largest and most modern business and economics universities. On a campus where quality of work is also quality of life. We are looking for support at the

Department of Economics
Part-time, 30 hours/week
Starting September 01, 2026, and limited until August 31, 2030. WU Vienna University of Economics and Business is offering up to nine PhD positions in Economics, to start in September 2026. The positions are funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) doc.funds program, specifically ”WU PhD Program in Economics”, 10.55776/DOC1222625. The successful candidates will be part of the WU PhD Program/label in Economics at the WU Department of Economics. This call is open to all fields in economics.

What to expect

The duties and responsibilities of the successful applicants include research and administrative tasks.

  • You will conduct independent research pursuing a PhD degree in Economics (“Label Economics”).
  • Strong dedication to the PhD Program, following doctoral courses and attending seminars is expected.
  • You will be expected to support research activities and administrative tasks in the department of Economics, and participate in teaching activities.

What you have to offer

We are looking for applicants with a strong academic record.

  • Academic degree: You have a diploma/master’s degree (MSc or equivalent) in economics or a related discipline that qualifies you for enrollment in a doctoral program at WU.
  • We expect you to have excellent knowledge in the three core areas in economics (microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics) at a research master level.
  • Excellent command of oral and written English is a prerequisite.

Applicants are requested to upload the following documents along with their application:

  • CV (incl. degrees, current position, research interests)
  • Motivation letter (incl. possible PhD dissertation project)
  • Master courses/Transcript of Records
  • Master thesis (or research proposal for master thesis)

In addition, we ask for two letters of recommendation. Applicants are responsible for asking their reference persons to upload their reference letters to the EconJobMarket platform (https://econjobmarket.org/).

Application Procedure:

  • Stage One
    Applicants must complete a WU application form which can be accessed by clicking on the University’s online recruitment system. Please do not include research papers or references with this application.
  • Stage Two (to be completed in conjunction with stage one – it is important that both stages are completed in full) You must apply online at https://econjobmarket.org/ by 25 February 2026 (midnight GMT). Please submit a motivation letter, a CV, your master courses/transcript of records, your master thesis (or research proposal for master thesis). In addition, we ask for two letters of recommendation that your reference persons will need to upload.

What we offer you

  • Six weeks of vacation/Extra vacation time
    • Flexible working hours
    • Training opportunities
    • A wide range of benefits, from an in-house medical officer to athletic activities and a meal allowance to a variety of employee discounts
    • Meaningful work in an open-minded, inclusive, and family-friendly environment
    • A modern campus with spectacular architecture in the heart of Vienna
    • Inspiring campus life with over 2,400 employees in research, teaching, and administration and approximately 21,500 students
    • Excellent accessibility by public transportation

-

Curious? Visit our website and find out more at www.wu.ac.at/benefits

The minimum monthly gross salary amounts to €2,832.08 (14 times per year). This salary may be adjusted based on job-related prior work experience. In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive social benefits. For more information on the PhD label Economics see: https://www.wu.ac.at/en/department-of-economics/study/phd-economics
Do you want to join the WU team?
Then please submit your application by February 25, 2026 (ID 2673).
We are looking forward to hearing from you!

To apply for this position, log in and choose your Applicant role (or, if you have no account, create one).
Location of job: Welthandelsplatz 1, Vienna, 1020, Austria
Degree required: Masters
Job start date: 2026-09-01
Job duration: 4 years
Letters of reference required: 2
Interviews: Interviews will be conducted remotely by video starting March, 2026.
Application deadline: 25 Feb 2026 midnight UTC

Cleveland, United States
Flexible start date. Duration: 12 weeks
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland www
Doctoral student
Any field
7 Jan 2026
23 Feb 2026
23 Feb 2026

The Research Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland offers a paid internship to a Ph.D. candidate at the stage of writing a dissertation in the fields of macroeconomics, monetary economics, labor economics, or banking and finance. The intern has the opportunity to interact with professionals in a stimulating research environment and attend the Department’s invited seminar series.

The internship will take place in-person between June-September 2026, for 10-12 weeks (dates flexible). The expected pay for this position is $35 hourly and will take into account the applicant’s background, experience, and skills. The Department provides a computer and technical support. The intern is expected to give a seminar on their dissertation topic at the beginning of their visit and a second seminar near the end to highlight progress made.

Applications are open to Ph.D. candidates from all U.S. Ph.D.-granting colleges and universities. Applicants must have passed their qualifying examinations and be at the dissertation stage of their program. As a condition of employment, candidates must undergo a background check and will be tested for all controlled substances prohibited by federal law, to include marijuana, prior to hire.

Please apply on EconJobMarket and include (1) a current CV, including names of academic advisors and (2) a research proposal. Applications can be submitted through February 23, 2026.

To apply for this position, log in and choose your Applicant role (or, if you have no account, create one).
Location of job: 1455 East 6th Street, Cleveland, 36, 44114, United States
Degree required: Masters
Job start date: Flexible
Job duration: 12 weeks
Interviews: Interviews will be conducted remotely by video starting March, 2026.
Application deadline: 23 Feb 2026 midnight UTC

Zürich, Switzerland
Flexible start date. Duration: 2 years
Department of Economics www
University of Zurich www
Research Assistant (Pre-Doc)
Any field
15 Jan 2026
1 Feb 2026
14 Feb 2026

Predoctoral Research Associate in Economics at the Chair of Globalization and Labor Markets

Predoctoral Research Associate in Economics

at the Chair of Globalization and Labor Markets, University of Zurich

The Department of Economics of the University of Zurich invites applications for the position of a Full-Time Predoctoral Research Associate in Economics. The Research Associate receives an appointment of up to 2 years at the Department of Economics and will work closely with Prof. David Dorn.

The position offers an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in developing cutting-edge empirical research. It will support research projects on labor markets, globalization, technological change, and political economy.

Specific responsibilities include obtaining, organizing and cleaning data, analysing data using statistical software, presenting results, and writing documentation and reports. See www.ddorn.net for past research projects and data outputs.

Job Qualifications:

  • Experience: Candidates should have hands-on experience with statistical software, ideally including Stata and possibly Matlab or R. Formal post-undergraduate professional experience is not required.
  • Education: This position requires a Master’s degree in economics or in a related discipline like social sciences, public policy, mathematics or statistics. Training in microeconomics, econometrics, and statistics is required.
  • Communication: Good oral and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of German is not required.
  • Time Management: Proven ability to handle several different projects/tasks at one time, successfully complete tasks assigned, and meet deadlines. A willingness to work hard, be self-motivated and learn will be essential for doing well in this position.
  • Citizenship: Both EU citizens and non-EU citizens are welcome to apply.

The Pre-Doc is a full-time position with a flexible start date in the summer/fall of 2026 and end date in summer 2028. It offers a competitive salary. The successful candidate will join a motivated team of young researchers in Zurich who work in a dynamic environment that offers frequent interaction with other research assistants, PhD students, faculty members, and access to seminar series (see www.econ.uzh.ch/en/eventsandseminars.com). Alumni of the University of Zurich’s Pre-Doc program have subsequently gone on to prestigious PhD programs in Europe and the United States.

The application should include the following: motivation letter, CV, and academic transcripts from past and current studies. Applicants should also arrange for two reference letters, ideally written by supervisors of past research-related activities.

The binding deadline for applications is February 1st 2026, and reference letters should be received by February 5th 2026.

Any necessary inquires can be directed to economicsrecruiting@econ.uzh.ch.

Apply here

To apply, visit https://www.facultyhiring.oec.uzh.ch/position/54394882. (See posting for details.)

Location of job: Schönberggasse 1, Zürich, 8001, Switzerland
Degree required: Masters
Job start date: Flexible
Job duration: 2 years
Letters of reference required: 2
Interviews: Interviews will be conducted remotely by video starting February, 2026.