PhD Position in Economics

Erasmus School of Economics is opening a full time PhD position in the General Economics department, for the duration of four years starting in September 2025. The position is open to candidates interested in topics related to Applied Microeconomics, especially Labor Economics, Development Economics, Personnel Economics, and Organization Economics.

Job description
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate in economics to join our research team and work on cutting-edge topics related to inequality in labor markets. The successful candidate will explore issues such as income and wealth disparities, access to opportunities, and the role of organizations and public policies in addressing labor market inequalities. The position offers the opportunity to engage in theoretical and empirical research (applied econometrics), collaborate with leading scholars, and contribute to the academic and policy debates surrounding economic inequality. The position is open for candidates interested in any type of experimental methods (natural, field, lab or survey).

Expected output
At least three publications. Our goal is to publish in top journals in economics or management.

We welcome PhD candidates who aspire to a career in research. To become one of our PhD candidates, you will need to be admitted to one of Erasmus School of Economics' graduate schools, the Tinbergen Institute or the Erasmus Research Institute in Management (ERIM). Applicants should have a strong background in economics, quantitative methods, and a keen interest in labor market dynamics.

General Requirements:

• MPhil or Research Master’s degree in Economics, Econometrics, Mathematics or Physics is preferred
  
  • Candidates with an MSc or MA degree are required to successfully complete 1 year of courses at the graduate school they are part of (Research Qualifications at the Tinbergen Institute or courses at ERIM)
• Excellent study results for both the bachelor and master’s degree
• Interest in and strong motivation for scientific research explained in a statement of purpose.
• GRE test is required for all entering PhD students. Valid GRE (revised) General Test results are required from all PhD applicants (all 3 sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing). Successful applicants typically perform among the top-10% of test-takers on the quantitative part of the GRE; applicants with a Q score below 160 will not be considered.
• Excellent command of English (IELTS/TOEFL). Students whose native language is not English are therefore required to demonstrate English proficiency by:
  
  • holding a degree from a Dutch university or an institution at which English is the language of instruction, or
  • scoring at least 100 on the TOEFL iBT test or 7 on the IELTS test.
• Two (academic) reference letters, preferably from a thesis supervisor or research project supervisor. Please send letter to doctoraloffice@ese.eur.nl
• Curriculum Vitae

We offer you an internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The start date of this position is 1 September 2025 and you will be based in Erasmus School of Economics (ESE). This position is for 1 fte. The salary ranges from a minimum of € 2.901 to a maximum of € 3.707 gross per month Scale PhD on a fulltime basis (38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU.

Everything else we offer you, you can find below!

• Everything you need for a good work-life balance: the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a significant discount on a subscription for our on-campus sports centre!
• Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as Young@EUR, FAME or QuEUR.
• Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget and free access to our university library.
• Good pension with ABP that EUR contributes 2/3rds towards, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use.
• Are you currently combining your job with parenthood, or do you want to do so in the future? EUR offers partially paid parental leave and fully paid additional birth leave for partners, and our campus features a daycare (daycare not paid for by EUR).
• Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the 30%-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency), and with our Dual Career Programme we will also help your partner find the right job for them.

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 4.100 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Faculty / Institute / Central service
Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) is a leading school in economics in the Netherlands. It has a strong international reputation and aims to do outstanding research. Moreover, it provides excellent education at the BA., MA. and Ph.D. levels. Much research at Erasmus School of Economics is policy relevant, has social impact, and offers a strong research culture, ample research resources, and comparatively low teaching loads.
www.eur.nl/en/ese

The General Economics department offers a vibrant research environment and a friendly atmosphere. We host several seminar series on a variety of topics, including the Research on Monday seminar, where top researchers are invited , a Micro seminar series, and an internal seminar, where faculty and PhD candidates have the opportunity to present and receive feedback on their research.