Place-based economic development in Europe

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.

FEBRI, the graduate school and research institute of the Faculty of Economics and Business, has available one PhD position in the field of

Place-based economic development in Europe.

What are you going to do?

The European Union is committed to reducing regional economic disparities and fostering inclusive growth, yet it has not been strikingly successful in achieving this. Some regions continue to lag behind while others thrive. This project aims to explore the underlying causes of these disparities and develop innovative strategies to enhance the EU's regional policy framework. The focus will be on place-based economic development, emphasizing the unique strengths and opportunities of different types of regions. This means that this project relates to themes including cross-regional collaboration, interregional alliances, and smart specialization.

The ideal candidate is ambitious, highly motivated and wishes to make a career in research at a leading university, and/or in a high-level professional role where a PhD is advantageous. The project allows for both a qualitative and quantitative approach (or mix thereof), and it is important that the candidate has a strong analytical mindset and is trained in at least one of these methods. Furthermore, it is essential that the candidate speaks and writes English fluently, and has obtained or is close to finishing their Master’s degree with excellent results.

The candidate should have a background in economics, economic geography, human geography, political science, international business or a related field (such as strategic management, planning, urban studies). In addition, the candidate should have a keen interest in regional economic development and policy.

• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

Shaping a better future together – your career starts at FEB The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) at the University of Groningen is a vibrant academic community with a clear mission: to develop knowledge that matters. With students and staff from over 100 countries, we foster an international working and learning environment where societal impact, world-class research, and innovation are at the core. At FEB, you’ll join committed colleagues who inspire and challenge one another. Whether you're a researcher, lecturer, or support professional, your skills and ambition will contribute to educating tomorrow’s leaders and thinkers. We encourage personal development and provide plenty of room for initiative and growth. Ready to take the next step in your career? Explore our vacancies and become part of one of the Netherlands’ leading faculties.

The PhD position is embedded in the research programme Innovation & Organization of FEB’s Research Institute. We offer a truly international environment (our working language is English and we currently employ more than 15 different nationalities). The project will be supervised by Prof. Florian Noseleit, Dr Daniël Speldekamp, and Dr Benito Giordano. The supervisory team has a track record of publishing in leading academic journals.

Do you have any questions or need more information?

Questions about the content of the job?
Daniël Speldekamp (Assistant Professor): d.speldekamp@rug.nl

Questions about your application process?
Rina Koning (Policy Officer): A.C.Koning@rug.nl