Department of Economics
Predoctoral Research Associate in Economics at the Chair of Globalization and Labor Markets 70 %
Start of employment summer/fall 2026, temporary
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.
Your responsibilities
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 for past research projects and data outputs.
Your profile
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: Candidates should have a master's degree in economics or a related field such as social science, 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 European citizens and non-Europeans 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 ). Alumni of the University of Zurich's Pre-Doc program have subsequently gone on to prestigious PhD programs in Europe and the United States.
Information on your application
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. Any necessary inquires can be directed to, while applications should be submitted via the link below. The binding deadline for applications is February 1st 2026, and reference letters should be received by February 5th 2026.
What we offer
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
Department of Economics
Schönberggasse 1, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Further information
Questions about the job
Anne Sander
Faculty Assistant
Working at UZH
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