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.)