Fully Funded & PAID Postdoctoral Position in Economics at Erasmus School of Economics (ESE), Erasmus University Rotterdam: Salary €4,728 – €6,433/month (+ benefits)

Overview of the Postdoc Opportunity in Economics

Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam is offering a four-year, full-time postdoctoral position in Economics. The role forms part of the prestigious NWO Vici research project titled “Making Money Matter: Rethinking the Design of Income Support to Break the Cycle of Intergenerational Poverty.”

The project is dedicated to advancing understanding of how intergenerational poverty and persistent inequality can be reduced through improved income support systems. It focuses on how policy design—particularly the timing, stability, generosity, and scope of income support—can influence children’s developmental outcomes and long-term life chances.

The position is set to begin on 1 September 2026 and is based within the Economics Department of Erasmus School of Economics in Rotterdam.

Research Focus: Intergenerational Poverty and Income Support Design

At the core of this postdoctoral role is a high-impact research agenda exploring how income support policies shape economic mobility across generations. The Vici project investigates how well-designed welfare systems can do more than provide short-term relief—they can actively disrupt cycles of poverty.

The research aims to generate evidence-based insights that help policymakers redesign social support systems in ways that improve equality of opportunity, particularly for children growing up in disadvantaged households.

Key themes include:

• The role of income support in child development
• Structural features of welfare systems such as timing, stability, and generosity
• Broader social and economic disadvantages, including health, debt, employment instability, and family disruption
• The long-term effects of policy design on intergenerational mobility

The project emphasizes collaboration with international researchers and the use of high-quality administrative data from the Netherlands.

Methodological Approach and Econometric Tools

The postdoctoral researcher will engage in advanced empirical economic research grounded in causal inference. A central focus of the project is identifying cause-and-effect relationships between income support policies and long-term outcomes.

The role involves applying state-of-the-art econometric methods, including:

• Staggered difference-in-differences designs
• Regression discontinuity approaches
• Causal forest and machine learning-based identification strategies

These methods will be used to rigorously evaluate social policies and contribute to the academic literature on inequality and labor economics.

Applicants are expected to outline in their application how they would contribute to the project’s broader research objectives.

Responsibilities and Academic Expectations

The postdoctoral position is structured as a research-intensive role, with approximately 90% dedicated to research and 10% to teaching.

The selected candidate will be expected to:

• Conduct independent, high-quality empirical research from data preparation through to publication
• Work with large and complex datasets using tools such as Stata, R, or Python
• Develop robust causal identification strategies for policy evaluation
• Translate theoretical and policy questions into clear empirical analysis
• Communicate findings effectively in academic papers and presentations
• Collaborate with policy institutions, municipalities, and external research partners where relevant
• Manage multiple research tasks and deadlines efficiently
• Contribute innovative ideas to ongoing and future research within the project

This position is designed for researchers with strong initiative, methodological rigor, and the ability to produce policy-relevant academic work.

Candidate Profile and Required Qualifications

The ideal applicant will hold a PhD and demonstrate expertise in fields such as intergenerational mobility, inequality, labor economics, or social policy evaluation.

Strong candidates will be able to demonstrate:

• Ability to conduct independent empirical research at a high academic standard
• Experience working with large datasets and statistical programming tools
• Knowledge of causal inference methods in policy evaluation
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Clear written and oral communication for academic and policy audiences
• Experience or interest in collaborating with external stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple research projects
• Creativity in developing new research questions aligned with the project’s goals

Employment Conditions and Benefits

Erasmus University Rotterdam offers a competitive and internationally oriented working environment under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

Key details of the position include:

• Full-time appointment (1.0 FTE)
• Four-year contract, starting with a two-year appointment and extension upon satisfactory performance
• Salary range: €4,728 to €6,433 gross per month (Scale 11, full-time basis)
• Start date: 1 September 2026

The university offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support work-life balance and professional development. This includes generous paid leave, holiday allowance, and an end-of-year bonus. Staff also benefit from flexible working arrangements, including the possibility of working from home in coordination with supervisors.

Additional benefits include access to a university sports centre, personal development budgets, pension contributions through ABP, and various insurance discounts. Erasmus University also provides support for international employees, including potential eligibility for Dutch tax advantages (Expat ruling) and dual-career assistance for partners.

Research Environment and Institutional Context

Erasmus University Rotterdam is an internationally recognized institution with a strong commitment to societal impact, expressed through its mission “Creating positive societal impact.”

The Erasmus School of Economics is known for its strong research culture, low teaching load, and emphasis on policy-relevant work. It offers programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels and maintains a strong international reputation for academic excellence.

Within the Economics Department, researchers participate in a vibrant seminar culture that includes:

• The “Research on Monday” seminar series featuring leading international scholars
• Microeconomics seminar series
• Internal seminars for faculty and PhD researchers

These activities foster an active intellectual environment that supports collaboration and research development.

Application Requirements and Deadline

Applicants are required to submit the following materials:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivation letter outlining research interests and contribution to the project
• Two reference letters
• One academic paper demonstrating relevant research interests

The application deadline is 10 May 2026, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The university explicitly encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences, emphasizing diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity within its academic community.

Call for Action

This postdoctoral position at Erasmus School of Economics offers an exceptional opportunity for researchers interested in inequality, social policy, and applied econometrics.

By joining the NWO Vici project, the successful candidate will contribute to cutting-edge research aimed at reshaping how income support systems can reduce intergenerational poverty and improve long-term social outcomes.

LEARN MORE & APPLY HERE

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization that is offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.