Postdoctoral Researcher specializing in Economic History

The position is attached to the research project “The roots of prejudice in Europe: The role of World War II”, funded by the Dutch Research Council’s (NWO) Vidi Grant of David Schindler.

The Postdoctoral Researcher will be appointed for a fixed-term of three years, starting in September 2026 (or earlier/later, if mutually agreed). The position is intended for an economic historian with expertise in causal inference using quasi-experiments and an interest in studying political preferences and racial attitudes. The successful candidate is expected to contribute to the research project while also having time for independent research. There will be a very light teaching load

Tilburg University believes that academic excellence is achieved through the combination of outstanding research and education, through which social impact is created by sharing knowledge. We recognize that excellence results from strong teamwork as well as individual expertise.

More specifically, we are looking for a candidate who has:

• Hold (or complete by the date of appointment) a PhD or equivalent degree in economics, public policy, political science, or a related field
• Research experience or publications that are indicative of a strong desire and ability to perform high-quality research in economic history or historical political economy
• Genuine interest in the research topic of the project
• Experience with collecting and digitizing archival data, strong knowledge of causal inference methods, good command of R and Python. Knowledge of machine learning methods is an asset.
• Strong command of English; command of either Dutch or German is a useful asset for the research project.

Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:

• A position based on 1,0 FTE (40 hours per week).
• A salary of minimum €4728 and maximum €6433 gross per month for full-time employment, based on UFO profile Researcher 3. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.
• This is a vacancy for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 5 sub b CLA DU. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 36 months.
• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
• The opportunity to work partly on campus and partly from home with a home office allowance of €2 per day.
• Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.
• A monthly internet allowance of €25.
• An options model in which you exchange benefits for things such as additional leave, more pension, a bicycle or personal training at our Sports Center.
• A moving allowance (subject to conditions).
• Employees from abroad may be eligible for a tax-free allowance for extraterritorial expenses equal to 30% of taxable salary.
• A pension with ABP; the largest Dutch pension fund.
• Training in personal development, career development, leadership, education, and research. Or a language course at our Language Center.
• A work culture in which we embrace differences, everyone is welcome and given equal opportunities.
• A vibrant campus in green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport.

For more information, see our website and the CLA Dutch Universities.

Tilburg University is an academic, inclusive, and engaged community. Together with nearly 3,000 employees, we are committed to broad prosperity, sustainably, and inclusion. For current and future generations. We develop and share knowledge for the requirements of people and our society. This is how we contribute to solving complex social issues and help society move forward.

We educate our 19,500 students of 110 nationalities to become responsible leaders with knowledge, skills, and character. With our education and research for broad prosperity, we exceedingly focus on themes such as mental and preventive care, an inclusive labor market, the energy transition, and digitalization.

About Tilburg School of Economics and Management
Tilburg School of Economics and Management (TiSEM) is one of Europe’s leading centers for research in business and economics, with research rankings consistently among’s Europe’s top 10 across various business domain. Tilburg University is among the top European institutions specializing in social sciences. In addition to the strong research focus and collegial research climate, it offers a wide variety of educational programs at the undergraduate and graduate level, with about 7,000 students enrolled. The School is well-connected to both policy makers and industry in the region and internationally, providing ample opportunities for creating impact with research.
Tilburg School of Economics and Management

About the department of Economics

The Economics Department at Tilburg University is one of the largest and most successful economics departments in Europe. Our faculty members are internationally recognized for their research and committed to providing high-quality education programs for students. The department is organized into several research institutes and projects, TILEC being one of them. The department hosts a weekly seminar program with invited speakers from top international schools and a weekly internal workshop program that allows our faculty and PhD students to present their research to the department. For more information, click here

Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact Dr. David Schindler (D.Schindler@tilburguniversity.edu)

We kindly invite you to apply before March 15, 2026; this can only be done online. Address your cover letter to David Schindler and attach your resume.