Leibniz Association 
Kiel, Germany Project Description
The position is located in our Kiel-CEPR Research Hub in Berlin and linked to the research group of Prof. Moritz Schularick. It is strongly research oriented.
Your Role:
There is no teaching obligation and only a very limited administrative burden. The primary focus of the position is to conduct research at the highest international standards in the fields of geoeconomics and economic history. As part of this role, the PostDoc will pursue independent research on topics related to history, conflict, and autocracy, preferably also with a focus on Eastern Europe.
The PostDoc is also expected to actively engage with our seminar culture and contribute to supervision and collaborative projects where appropriate and in line with their interests. The position offers substantial freedom and support to develop an independent research agenda and pursue work toward publication in leading international journals.
Your Profile:
We are looking for a candidate who meets the following criteria:
- PhD in economics, possibly also political science with a strong quantitative focus (completed or close to completion).
- Excellent academic record and outstanding research potential.
- Very strong quantitative and empirical skills.
- Experience with very large datasets, historical datasets and/or text-as-data.
- Experience and interest in history, conflict, and autocracy. Prior research focus on Eastern Europe is particularly desirable.
- The working language is English; excellent English skills are therefore required. Some knowledge of German would be useful but is not essential.
We are offering:
The planned contract period is two years (starting in the fall or winter of 2026). The salary will be based on the German public sector pay scale at grade EG 13 TV L and will therefore be between 52.000 and 75.000 € gross annually (depending on work experience). The position is full-time. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy values diversity. We welcome applications regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
The Kiel Institute is an equal opportunity employer with a certified family-friendly policy. We promote the professional opportunities of women and strongly encourage them to apply. Women with equivalent qualifications, competence and expertise will be given preference. We are committed to employing persons with recognized disabilities and will therefore give them preference over persons without disabilities if they are equally qualified.
In order to be eligible for this position you have to hold EU citizenship or need to be able to provide a work permit that is valid throughout the time of your contract.
Please submit your application online using ID-No. “PostDoc_History”. Please include (i) a letter of interest, (ii) your CV, (iii) two research papers, (iv) university transcripts, as well as (v) proofs of relevant work experience. The deadline for applications is the 18.10.2026. Application photos should not be included. For additional information, please contact Anastasiia.Arbuzova@kielinstitut.de.
