To strengthen our team and join our junior faculty, we are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) with a focus on international economics. The position is for three years with possible extension for up to six years, based in Munich, Germany.

We are seeking a candidate who is committed to high-quality, policy-relevant research and strongly motivated to advance her*his own research agenda and contribute to the policy debate. The ability and willingness to raise third-party research funding are expected.

Our team investigates how globalization and international trade policy affect firms, workers and economies. Our research covers topics such as the role of trade barriers and trade agreements, global value chains, innovation, and firms’ responses to international shocks. We combine international trade theory with applied econometrics and big data.

The ifo Institute is one of Europe’s leading economic research institutes. Research at ifo combines academic excellence with economic policy relevance. Our faculty and postdoctoral researchers publish their work in high-impact journals and use their findings to bring scientific perspectives into policy debates. The scope of our research is broad, covering most fields in economics. Please check out our research activities in-depth on the following webpage: https://www.ifo.de/en/research

We promote outstanding research by providing generous administrative and research support, an exceptional data infrastructure, and tailored training and development programs. Our international CESifo research network offers ample opportunities for scientific exchange with top-class scholars. Guest researchers regularly visit the Institute. Thanks to our close cooperation with the University of Munich (LMU), our postdoctoral researchers are integrated into the junior faculty of the Department of Economics at LMU. The position has no formal teaching obligation; however, limited teaching is encouraged.

Our junior faculty members…

Research

• work on exciting questions in virtually all fields of economics
• regularly publish in top general interest and field journals
• cause impact because they bring scientific findings into policy debates
• contribute to the debate on economic and educational policy in line with our claim "Shaping the Economic Debate"
• are highly demanded on the national and international job market, both in academia and outside, and achieve placements as full or associate professors at top universities

People

• are part of a team of about 118 economists
• are embedded in a vibrant economics community in Munich
• are part of the Department of Economics at LMU Munich
• can participate in the structured Junior Faculty Development Program and have the opportunity to teach at LMU Munich
• engage with international top-class economists within our CESifo network with over 2,200 members from all over the world

Support

• have access to an exceptional data infrastructure and other supporting services

ifo

• have an initial three-year employment contract, with the option to be extended for another three years
• receive their salary according to TV-L E 13 or E 14 (starting at 68,200 EUR incl. special annual payment) depending on publications and are part of the company pension scheme (VBL) (in addition to the statutory pension insurance)
• are supported in their professional and personal development with flexible working hours, the possibility of mobile work and many tailored training and development programs, and are equipped for this in the best possible, modern and comprehensive way
• work in close proximity to the English Garden and the Isar
• can use our beautiful garden, which connects our historic buildings, to relax during lunch breaks, for a coffee in between or to chat with colleagues.
• are entitled to a relocation allowance after passing their probationary period if they move to Munich or the surrounding area from a radius of 200 km or more
• will be supported with German courses if needed

We support the EU Commission's initiative by developing a special human resources strategy for research staff that takes into account the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Our membership in the Familienpakt Bayern (Bavarian Family Pact) reinforces our measures to reconcile family and career. We promote professional equality regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual identity. We strive to increase the proportion of women in research and therefore expressly encourage women to apply.

Candidates should hold a PhD in economics or be about to defend a PhD soon. Interested candidates should submit their application via EJM - Econ Job Market. Applications should include a cover letter, CV, job market paper, and at least three reference letters.

The deadline for submitting applications is November 18, 2026. We will conduct virtual interviews as part of the 2026-2027 European Job Market between Monday, December 14, 2026 and Thursday, December 17, 2026. Flyouts will start on Monday, January 11, 2027.

Please feel free to contact jobmarket@ifo.de if you have any questions. For further information on careers at the ifo Institute, please visit https://www.ifo.de/en/career-ifo .