PhD candidate in the Economics of innovation and science (f/m) - Ref: 26-23

Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)

is recruiting a

PhD candidate in the Economics of innovation and science (f/m)

• Ref : 26-23
• Fixed-term working contract at LISER for 36 months (extendable up to 48 months maximum)
• Full-time, 40 hours/week
• Department: Labour Market (Innovation and Science Observatory)
• Work location: Belval (Luxembourg)
• Start date: As soon as possible

Project description

The PhD candidate will contribute to ongoing research projects in the fields the economics of science and the economics of innovation. Within this broader research agenda, the candidate will be encouraged to develop their own original research questions and empirical strategy, in close dialogue with the principal investigator (PI) – Prof. Cindy Lopes-Bento and possible co-supervisors.

Your role

In this context, the successful candidate will have the following missions:

• you will contribute to research projects at the intersection of the economics of science, and the translation of scientific knowledge into economic and societal outcomes.
• your work will combine theoretically grounded research questions with large-scale empirical analysis. The projects are not intended as purely data-driven exercises: they should build on relevant theories from economics, management, innovation studies, public policy, and related fields, and aim to contribute to theory development on how scientific ideas are selected, funded, evaluated, and transformed into innovation, commercialization, and broader societal impact.
• you will work closely with the PI and, where relevant, with co-supervisors and other collaborators. You will be expected to work independently on your PhD research within the broader project agenda, contribute to academic papers intended for publication in international peer-reviewed journals, and present your work at seminars, workshops, and conferences.

The position offers the opportunity to work on policy-relevant academic research concerning how scientific ideas are selected, funded, evaluated, and transformed into innovation, commercialization, and broader societal impact.

Your profile

We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious PhD candidate who:

• holds, or will obtain before the start of the appointment, a Master’s degree in Economics, Business Economics, Innovation Studies, Public Policy, Management, Econometrics, Statistics, Data Science, or a related discipline, with a strong interest in science, innovation, research funding, and the translation of scientific knowledge into economic and societal outcomes ;
• has an excellent academic record. Strong results in prior studies are expected ;
• demonstrates a clear interest in topics related to science and innovation policy, research evaluation, public funding, academic careers, knowledge transfer, patenting, commercialization, or the economic and societal impact of research ;
• Possesses strong analytical and quantitative research skills. The successful candidate should be willing and able to work with large and complex datasets, including administrative, bibliometric, patent, funding, or firm-level data, and to conduct rigorous empirical analyses ;
• has, or is willing to develop, skills in data management, statistical programming, and empirical research methods. Experience with software such as Stata, R, Python, or similar tools is an advantage ;
• has excellent written and spoken English. Knowledge of French, German, or Luxembourgish is an asset but not a requirement ;

• is motivated to develop independent research projects and to contribute to publishable academic papers in the fields of economics of innovation, science policy, management, or related areas ;
• is interested in presenting research at international academic conferences and participating actively in seminars, workshops, and the broader research environment ;
• enjoys working independently while also collaborating closely with the supervisor, co-supervisors, and an international research team ;
• is willing to enroll in the relevant PhD program and comply with the doctoral training requirements of the host university ;
• may contribute to selected research-related activities, such as literature reviews, data collection and cleaning, preparation of presentations and reports, helps out with the organization of internal seminars or workshops/conferences, and, where appropriate, supervision or support of student research.

What we offer

• A dynamic and international research environment with attractive working conditions and a stimulating work environment;
• Flexibility in the organisation of the working hours and the possibility of teleworking;
• Competitive remuneration according to the Collective Labour Agreement in force (meal vouchers, etc.);
• Investment in career support and development (trainings, seminars, participation to international meetings and conferences);
• 32.5 days of annual leave for a full-time contract.

How to apply

Please submit your application via our online platform https://jobs.liser.lu/jobs including the following elements:

• Curriculum vitae;
• Motivation letter;
• Recent piece of research;
• Copy of your Master’s diploma and transcripts;
• Contact details for two referees.

Please note that this position will remain open until filled.

For administrative matters, please contact Mrs. Vanya KIROVA at recruitment@liser.lu

Why LISER?

LISER is a publicly funded research institute located in Luxembourg and dedicated to applied empirical research in economic, social and spatial sciences. The Institute attracts top researchers from all over the world and high-level student training is a vibrant part of the Institute’s activities. LISER staff consists of approx. 200 employees, about 60% of the staff being researchers; mainly from the fields of economics, geography and sociology. The vision of the institute is to be a socio-economic research institute internationally recognised, focused on scientific excellence and societal impact, able to contribute through multi-disciplinary and intersectoral research, in an active and inclusive way to a sustainable and inclusive society at national and international level.

The institute is located on the new Belval campus in the south of Luxembourg (Cité des Sciences, Luxembourg), which hosts the University of Luxembourg and a substantial part of the country’s publicly funded research facilities, i.e. LISER, the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS) cross-national data centre, the Luxembourg institutes of Health (LIH) and of Science and Technology (LIST). Information on research in Luxembourg is accessible via the national EURAXESS platform.

LISER is an Equal Opportunity Employer