Job Description

Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Pre-Doctoral Program - Global Talent Common Application 70 %

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Start of employment earliest 1. March 2026, latest 1. February 2027
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.

Your responsibilities

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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 Ambuhl, Lorenzo Casaburi, Ana Costa-Ramon, David Dorn, Thomas Graeber, David Hemous, Mathias Hoffmann, Ronak Jain, Dina Pomeranz, Hans-Joachim Voth, David Yanagizawa-Drott and Ulf Zolitz.

Your profile

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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 got 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.

Information on your application

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How to Apply

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.

What we offer

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Work-Life Balance

Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing) Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH

Learning and Development

Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich

Food

Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution

Healthcare

Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ Free seasonal flu vaccinations Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower

Discounts

Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions Special conditions on hotel reservations

Conditions of Employment

Policies of the UZH Most UZH staff are employed according to public law

International Services

Support for people from outside Switzerland

Campuses

Campuses Zurich City, Zurich Irchel, Oerlikon and Schlieren Sites Zurich West, Old Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden and Lengg

Location

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Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Schonberggasse 1, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland

Further information

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Questions about the job

Claire Chappuis

Predoc Program Manager

Working at UZH

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The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!