Pre-Doctoral Researcher (f/m) for the ERC-project "RUSTDEC" - Ref: 26-07

For title

The Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)

is recruiting up to 2

Pre-Doctoral Researcher (f/m) for the ERC-project “Rural Structural Transformation in Developing Countries” (RUSTDEC)

• Ref: 26-07
• 12 months fixed-term working contract at LISER (possible extension up to 12 months)
• Full-time, 40 hours/week
• Research Programme: Crossing Borders & Migration
• Work location: Belval (Luxembourg)
• Deadline: March 15th, 2026

Project description

We are seeking to fill two full-time pre-doctoral Research Associate positions to support the ERC-funded project "Rural Structural Transformation in Developing Countries" (RUSTDEC). The project investigates the causes and consequences of structural transformation in developing countries and its potential interaction with climate change.

The position will be based at the LISER premises in Luxembourg and will be co-supervised by the Principal Investigator of the project, Dr. Andre Groeger, together with work package-specific collaborators. The position offers unique learning opportunities, competitive economic conditions and the chance to participate in the vibrant academic life of LISER.

Your Role

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

• Provide research support to the project team of different work packages  ;
• Tasks may include data collection and cleaning, econometric and structural analysis, conducting literature reviews, and/or documenting data work with reproducible replication packages.

Your Profile

• Master degree in Economics (Master of Science degree of advantage) ;
• Demonstrated experience in programming languages such as Stata, R or Python. Previous knowledge of Dynare, GIS and/or Matlab applications and coding is an advantage ;
• Research experience: 1-3 years ;
• Proficiency in oral and written English, the knowledge of German/French is considered as an asset ;
• Enthusiasm about research and highly motivated to apply analytical and writing skills to studies in development, spatial, and environmental economics.

LISER particularly encourage female applicants to apply

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 (half of a 13th month salary, meal vouchers, etc.) ;
• Investment in career support and development (trainings, workshops and seminars) ;
• 32.5 days of annual leave for a full-time contract.

How to apply

Please submit your complete application in English via https://jobs.liser.lu/jobs by including the following documents before March 15th, 2026 :

• Curriculum vitae ;
• Motivation letter ;
• Recent piece of research (e.g., Master thesis) ;
• Copy of your Master’s diploma and transcripts ;
• Two reference letters (to be sent by the letter writer directly to recruitment@liser.lu).

Deadline to submit applications: March 15th, 2026

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