Job Title:  Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d)

The Department of Economics of the Central European University (CEU) invites applications for the position of a Postdoctoral Researcher for the duration of two years (extension may be possible). 

We are looking for an outstanding postdoctoral researcher to join our project on “Misbeliefs in Economics and Politics.” In this project, we will combine behavioral-economic theory, experiments, and observational data to study the emergence and economic implications of misbeliefs. We will investigate the formation of systems of misbeliefs (“alternative realities”), how these interact with the observed reality, and how they shape economic behavior and outcomes.

The positions will be based at the Department of Economics at Central European University for the duration of two years. The position will start August 1, 2025 or possibly earlier. You will be working as an integral part of a larger research team studying misbeliefs, spanning economics and cognitive science. The Principal Investigator for this project is Adam Szeidl. Team members include Christoph Drobner, Marc Kaufmann, Mats Köster, and Ferenc Szucs.

Qualifications

• Completed or are close to obtaining a PhD in economics or a related field.
• Expertise and research background in either behavioral economic theory or experimental economics including lab, field, or online experiments.
• Experience with or interest in text analysis / machine learning an advantage but not required.
• Evidence of the capacity to prepare excellent publications. 
• Commitment to high quality research.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively. 
• Effective written and verbal communication and time management skills.
• Fluency in English. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• You will conduct innovative and high-quality research on (mis)beliefs. 
• You will have a central role in all aspects of the research process, from model building and/or experiments to the drafting and publishing of academic papers. 
• You will be part of an interdisciplinary team delivering high-impact research that is publishable in top international academic journals. 
• You will have time dedicated to advancing your own research agenda. 
• You are encouraged to contribute to the overall activities of the Department and attend seminars. 
• You will have a small teaching obligation taking up about 10% of your time.
• You will be encouraged to gain experience in the supervision of research assistants and students. 
• The position is based in Vienna and requires regular presence at the department. 

What CEU offers 

• We offer a competitive yearly gross salary of about 66,000 EUR.
• You will be based at a renowned, research-intensive economics department, the Department of Economics and Business at the Central European University in Vienna, and benefit from participation in a vibrant research environment.
• CEU enrolls more than 1,400 students from over 100 countries and the language of instruction is English. The teaching staff consists of resident faculty from over 50 countries and prominent visiting scholars from around the world.
• Inspiring working atmosphere as part of an international academic team in a healthy and fair working environment. 
• The position offers a large range of on-the-job learning and training opportunities and mentoring from supervisors.
• You will work in a modern campus, easily accessible by public transportation, in Vienna which is one of the most livable cities in the world.

How to Apply

Applications should include a cover letter, two letters of reference, a curriculum vitae, and a published or unpublished research paper. Applications should be submitted through the econjobmarket.org website. 

For further information about this position, please contact Judit Lafferthon (lafferthonj@ceu.edu).

CEU is an equal opportunity employer and values geographical and gender diversity, thus encouraging applications from women and/or other underrepresented groups. Since CEU strives to increase the share of women in professorial positions, given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female applicants. CEU recognizes that personal and family circumstances shape the trajectory of one’s career and working patterns. As such, and in line with CEU’s promotion of Equal Opportunities, we encourage applicants to detail periods of leave, part-time work or other such situations in their applications so that the Search Committee is able to assess an applicant’s academic record fairly in the context of their circumstances. Any declaration of personal and family circumstances is voluntary and will be handled confidentially and only considered in so far as it impacts on the academic career of an applicant.

About CEU

One of the world’s most international universities, a unique founding mission positions Central European University as both an acclaimed center for the study of economic, historical, social and political challenges, and a source of support for building open and democratic societies that respect human rights and human dignity. CEU is accredited in the United States and Austria, and offers English-language bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in the social sciences, the humanities, law, environmental sciences, management and public policy. CEU enrolls more than 1,400 students from over 100 countries, with faculty from over 50 countries.

In 2019, CEU relocated from Hungary to Austria as the Hungarian government revoked its ability to issue US-accredited degrees in the country. As a result, CEU offers all of its degree programs in Vienna, Austria; and retains a non-degree, research and civic engagement presence in Budapest, Hungary, through its CEU Democracy Institute, the Institute for Advanced Study, the CEU Summer University and The Vera and Donald Blinken Open Society Archives (OSA), and its Hungarian language public educational programs and public lectures.

For more information, please visit https://www.ceu.edu/.