Project description
The candidate is expected to engage in a project called ‘Improving food and nutrition security by enhancing women’s empowerment’. This project focuses on trade-offs and synergies between food and nutrition security (SDG 2) and Gender equality (SDG 5). The aim is to enhance food and nutrition security through through increased empowerment of women engaged in agriculture. The project will combine conceptual thinking, secondary data analysis as well as field and lab-in the field experiments in Bangladesh and Ethiopia. The experiments that will be implemented as pilot interventions will address economic and psychological constraints. The project is led by the University of Groningen and is a collaborative research effort involving several universities, including the University of Passau, as well as governmental and non-governmental organisations in the US, Bangladesh and Ethiopia, including IFPRI and BRAC.

Candidates are expected to travel and carry out field work in Bangladesh and Ethiopia, to engage with the other partners in the project, present their work at international conferences and workshops and publish their work in international peer-reviewed academic journals. Doctoral candidates have access to a wide range of doctoral-level courses offered by the University of Groningen, the University of Passau and the Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (www.bgpe.de).

Organisation
The PhD dissertation will be jointly supervised by Prof. Robert Lensink (Faculty of Economics and Business , University of Groningen, The Netherlands) and Prof. Michael Grimm (Chair of Development Economics of the School of Business, Economics and Information Systems of the University of Passau, Germany). After successful completion a joint doctoral degree of the University of Groningen and the University of Passau will be awarded. The contract will run over four years, and will contain an appointment at two universities. The candidate will alternate between both Universities, but will preferably reside the first two years in Passau and the last two years in Groningen. At the University of Groningen, the project will be embedded in SOM’s research programme in Economics, Econometrics and Finance.

The successful candidate is expected to have a recent M.A./M.Sc. in Economics or Development Studies (with a specialisation in Economics) with a demonstrated background in ‘Development’ and ideally also ‘Agriculture’ and/or ‘Psychology’. The position requires strong quantitative skills, expertise in impact evaluation and the ability to handle and manage large and complex micro-datasets in STATA.

Field experience and expertise in one or several developing countries are desirable. The candidate should be a flexible team worker with good planning and organisational skills, an interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and a very good command of English. Proficiency in German and/or Dutch would be an advantage.

Fixed-term contract: 12 months.

Two years will be covered by the University of Passau with a 75% position which can possibly be topped up with a 25% teaching position, and two years will be covered by the University of Groningen with a 100% position. Remuneration for the position in Germany is in line with pay grade TV-L E13 of the German public-sector salary scale, with the social benefits applicable for public-sector employees. The gross monthly salary for a 75% position is in the range of € 3,055 and € 3,465 plus an end of the year allowance of 46,47% of the montly salary in Germany. The gross monthly salary for the position in the Netherlands varies between € 2,434 and € 3,111. Based on the gross salary you will receive an additional 8% holiday allowance each year in May, and an additional 8.3 % end of year bonus in December (regarding the position in the Netherlands).

Starting date: 1 February 2022 (or as soon as possible after 1 December 2021)

Faculty of Economics and Business

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Belonging to the best research universities of Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

Faculty of Economics and Business
The Faculty of Economics and Business offers an inspiring study and working environment for students and employees. International accreditation enables the Faculty to assess performance against the highest international standards. It also creates an exciting environment of continuous improvement. FEB's programmes, academic staff and research do well on various excellence ranking lists.

The University of Passau owes its strong visibility and good repute to excellent research, innovative teaching and its tight-knit international academic networks. Some 13,000 students and more than 1,200 staff study and work on the university campus. Internationally successful high-tech companies and a vibrant start-up scene, coupled with a rich culture and Lower Bavarian traditions, give Passau and the surrounding area a special appeal that makes it a great place to live and work.

The School of Business, Economics and Information Systems
Outstanding study conditions and excellent career prospects make the faculty regularly shine in international rankings. The School offers jointly nine other Bavarian Universities the Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE) which provides high-level courses and workshops delivered by international renowned experts in their field.

SOM, the graduate school and research institute of the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen (Netherlands) and the Chair of Development Economics of the School of Business, Economics and Information Systems of the University of Passau (Germany) invite applications for
The PhD position: “Improving food and nutrition security by enhancing women’s empowerment”