ifo Postdoctoral Researcher / Economist (f/m/d) for the ifo Center for the Economics of Education

To strengthen our team and join our junior faculty, we are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher / Economist (f/m/d) with a focus on the economics of education. The position is for three years with possible extension for up to six years and can start as soon as possible at a mutually agreed date.

Our team investigates the causes and effects of education from an economic perspective. How can policy enable people to benefit from the opportunities of an open society? How can we shape our education system and educational institutions to allow everyone in society to thrive? Our team would like to answer these questions with the help of economic analyses of the effects of education on prosperity and equal opportunities. Help us and join our team!

We seek a team member who is passionate about high-quality research on policy-relevant questions, has a strong drive to further their own research agenda, is willing to give guidance for doctoral candidates, and to communicate their research to the public and media.

We, the ifo Institute, are one of the leading economic research institutes in Europe. We work on issues relevant to economics and economic policy at the highest scientific level and with an international reach, and develop research-based recommendations for action for policymakers, business and society. Through our five fields of activity – research, promotion of young researchers, policy advice, participation in public debates and information/service – we contribute to maintaining and increasing sustainable economic prosperity and social participation under constantly changing conditions.

Do you want to know more about us and your career opportunities? Check us out at https://www.ifo.de/en/about-us/ifo-career

Apply now using the form

Your new job includes...

• Research in the field of the economics of education
• Conceiving, acquiring, managing, and working on third-party funded projects
• Providing guidance and (informal) mentoring for doctoral candidates
• Publishing your research results in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals
• Making your research results accessible to the general public

What we expect from your profile...

• You have a degree in economics with a focus on the economics of education, labor, and/or applied microeconomics or other related fields, and you have completed your PhD by job start or are close to completing it
• You have already proven your relevant knowledge and experience through articles in internationally recognized refereed journals or working papers suitable for publication
• You contribute in-depth knowledge of methods of applied microeconometrics, labor economics and the economics of education
• With excellent English language skills, both written and spoken, you are able to interact confidently in the international network of researchers
• Knowledge of the German language on a level that enables you to successfully participate in dissemination activities is a particular asset
• You are a team player and like to take responsibility for yourself and others
• You enjoy learning from and through discussions and are convinced that excellent and effective research is created in dialogue with others

Our junior faculty members…

Research

• work on exciting questions in virtually all fields of economics
• regularly publish in top general interest and field journals
• cause impact because they bring scientific findings into policy debates
• contribute to the debate on economic and educational policy in line with our claim "Shaping the Economic Debate"
• are highly demanded on the national and international job market, both in academia and outside, and achieve placements as full or associate professors at top universities

People

• are part of a team of about 114 economists
• are embedded in a vibrant economics community in Munich
• are part of the Department of Economics at LMU Munich
• can participate in the structured Junior Faculty Development Program and have the opportunity to teach at LMU Munich
• engage with international top-class economists within our CESifo network with over 2,200 members from all over the world

Support

• have access to an exceptional data infrastructure and other supporting services

ifo

• have an initial three-year employment contract, with the option to be extended for another three years
• receive their salary according to TV-L E 13 or E 14 (around 67,000 EUR incl. special annual payment) depending on publications and are part of the company pension scheme (VBL) (in addition to the statutory pension insurance)
• are supported in their professional and personal development with flexible working hours, the possibility of mobile work and many tailored training and development programs, and are equipped for this in the best possible, modern and comprehensive way
• work in close proximity to the English Garden and the Isar
• can use our beautiful garden, which connects our historic buildings, to relax during lunch breaks, for a coffee in between or to chat with colleagues.
• are entitled to a relocation allowance after passing their probationary period if they move to Munich or the surrounding area from a radius of 200 km or more
• will be supported with German courses if needed

We support the EU Commission's initiative by developing a special human resources strategy for research staff that takes into account the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Our membership in the Familienpakt Bayern (Bavarian Family Pact) reinforces our measures to reconcile family and career. We promote professional equality regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual identity. We strive to increase the proportion of women in research and therefore expressly encourage women to apply.
    

How to apply!

Interested? Then we look forward to receiving your application with the reference number 2026-012 BI-PostDoc until July 22, 2026 using the application form. Please note that flyouts are scheduled for August 11 and 12, 2026.

Applications should include a cover letter, CV, job market paper, and at least two reference letters. Reference letters can be sent directly from the creator to the following email address recruiting@ifo.de. The letters will then be added to your application in our system and forwarded to the appropriate people.

Please make sure to use only .pdf files, Word documents and images in .jpg format. Please also ensure to use short file names. Please read the document "Information on attachment naming" and try the browser "Mozilla Firefox" or "Microsoft Edge" in the latest version should you have problems uploading the documents.

For technical or general questions, please contact recruiting@ifo.de. For subject-specific information / questions, please contact the ifo Center for the Economics of Education (BI-office@ifo.de).