The Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA) of Maastricht University’s School of Business and Economics is seeking to appoint one PhD-candidate on the project “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work: Evidence from Field Experiments and Administrative Data” (short: ai.conomics). The candidates should have a solid understanding of quantitative methods, and a strong background in quantitative social science (such as, economics, applied econometrics, quantitative sociology, or a related discipline). Some experience with register data, field experiments and randomized controlled trials is an advantage.

The candidate will be part of an energetic multidisciplinary and international research group, specialized in the future of work and how work and workers are affected by the implementation of AI. The research team is composed of researchers from ROA and the German Institute for Employment Research (IAB). The PhD is stationed at ROA. To emphasize the international character of the project, the PhD will also work a considerable part of the time at IAB in Nuremburg.

ROA is a leading research institute of the School of Business and Economics at Maastricht University. ROA intends to make a significant contribution to both academic and societal discussions on the effects of human capital on the performance of individuals, firms and societies as a whole.

The Institute for Employment Research (IAB) conducts research on the labor market in order to advise political actors at all levels in a competent manner. Economists, sociologists and researchers from other social science and methodological disciplines create the base for empirically well-informed labor market policy by way of excellently linked research, both nationally and internationally.

The PhD candidate will be supervised by Dr. Marie-Christine Fregin (project coordinator, ROA), dr. Simon Janssen (IAB), Prof. dr. Didier Fouarge (ROA) and/or prof. dr. Mark Levels. (ROA) The PhD candidate is expected to complete studies that will be published in leading peer-reviewed journals. The PhD will work closely with a postdoc we are also now hiring.

Candidates will be judged on the basis of the requirements outlined below. To be considered, candidates should make sure that their application letter demonstrates how they meet these requirements:

• Successful completion of a Research Master degree (or two-year equivalent) in economics, applied econometrics, quantitative sociology or other relevant fields;
• Developed skills in research design and relevant quantitative analysis, as demonstrated in education and work so far;
• The candidate will participate in field experiments and work with large register data sets from social security records. As such, experience with preparing and analyzing longitudinal register data and experience with field experiments are an advantage. Willingness and ability to learn are a must;
• Strong analytical capacity;
• Affinity with work in an interdisciplinary and international environment;
• Excellent proficiency in English (working language). Preferably command of German and/or Dutch;
• Outstanding organizational, verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills;
• Affinity to working in a diverse team, with partners from academia and industry.

We are looking for someone who best fits this profile.

Fixed-term contract: 4 jaar.

We offer a full-time employment contract as a PhD candidate. The first employment contract will be for a period of 1,5 year and will be extended for another 2,5 years after positive evaluation. Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels for PhD students starting with a salary of € 2.395,00 with a yearly growth to € 3.061,00 gross a month (based on a full-time appointment). Each year the standard salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% of the yearly gross income.

You have to be willing to move to (the vicinity of) Maastricht. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings), you will be eligible for an allowance for moving costs. Secondary employment conditions might apply such as a pension scheme, a corporate fitness plan, a bicycle scheme, at least 232 hours of yearly leave hours, and partially paid parental leave.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 20,000 students and 4,700 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

The Research Centre for Education and the Labor Market (ROA)

The Research Centre for Education and the Labor Market (ROA) is a research institute of the Maastricht University School of Business and Economics, established in 1986. The overarching research theme of ROA is the acquisition and depreciation of human capital over the life course in relation to the skills demanded on the labor market.

ROA’s mission is to conduct high quality research that has a strong policy impact. Building on a strong position in academia, ROA aims to inform and inspire policymakers and academics, and thereby to contribute to both scientific research and public and organizations’ human resource development policies. ROA’s research program is organized in four themes:

• Education and Transition to Work
• Health, Skills, and Inequality
• Labor Market and Training
• Human Capital in the Region

The first two themes focus on education and skills as point of departure and study the drivers and outcomes at the individual, organizational and societal level. The last two programs study the developments in skill supply and demand on the labor market and the interactions between the two at the national and regional level.

In these fields ROA contributes to both the academic literature and the public debate on education and labor market issues. ROA’s research activities are being carried out and supported by a dedicated scientific and support staff, consisting of about 60 employees.