Full Professor Applied Economic Data Research Methods

As Applied Economic Data Research Methods chair, you play a crucial role in strengthening the research profile and expertise of the Utrecht University School of Economics (U.S.E.) and its Applied Economics section, both nationally and internationally, with cutting-edge data analysis techniques to solve real-world economic problems in research and education. This is in line with important societal challenges, the U.S.E. research themes Future of Work and Sustainability & Economic Development, and in cooperation with relevant Utrecht University strategic themes, in particular Pathways to Sustainability and Institutions for Open Societies.

Your main goal is to further advance and profile economic research and education according to the field of expertise in line with the importance of the chair. Apart from your own research, you will play a stimulating role in U.S.E. research, to promote a research environment according to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, and to engage in activities aimed at attracting external research funding through grants and consulting. Additional duties include supervision of PhD projects and Postdoctoral research resulting in theses and publications and the transfer of knowledge to society by organising events, such as conferences and workshops. Teaching will be multidisciplinary and applied in nature according to the USE educational profile. Cooperation with other chair groups within U.S.E. and Utrecht University in teaching and research is strongly encouraged. Your tasks and responsibilities include:

• performing and encouraging scientific research in the field of Applied Economic Data Research Methods;
• supervision of PhD theses;
• contributing to a suitable educational- and research environment to create team spirit and societal impact, including stimulating and supervising multidisciplinary research;
• contributing to financial sustainability, including active participation in external funding;
• organising and teaching in education in the U.S.E. Bachelor's and Master's programmes.

Full Professor of Macroeconomics

The professorship in Macroeconomics plays a crucial role in strengthening the research profile and expertise of U.S.E. and the section Economics (inter)nationally. This should be in line with important societal challenges, the U.S.E. research themes, and in cooperation with relevant Utrecht University strategic themes, in particular Institutions for Open Societies and/or Pathways to Sustainability.

The position can cover various subfields, such as economic growth and productivity, business cycles, international macroeconomics, international trade, international money, environmental macroeconomics, monetary economics, macroeconomic policy. We do not expect you to cover all subfields. We do expect you to be able to combine advanced theory with up-to-date empirical methods to analyse real world macro-economic problems and provide suitable policy solutions.

Your main goal is to further advance economic research and education in the fields of expertise listed above. Beyond your own research, you play an active role in the U.S.E. research community by fostering an environment that values Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and by attracting external research funding through grants and consulting.

You support PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, guiding their work toward high-quality theses and publications. Additionally, you contribute to knowledge transfer to society by organizing events such as conferences and workshops.

Teaching at U.S.E. is multidisciplinary and applied, aligning with the school's educational approach. Collaboration with other sections within U.S.E. and Utrecht University in both teaching and research is strongly encouraged.

Your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• performing and encouraging scientific research in the field of Macroeconomics;
• supervision of PhD theses;
• participating in education in the U.S.E. Bachelor's and Master's programmes;
• leadership in contributing to the research and teaching climate, including stimulating and supervising (multidisciplinary) research and teaching;
• contributing to the financial sustainability of U.S.E., including active participation in external fundraising.

PhD-positions in field of Operations Research & Econometrics

Job Descriptions
We have two PhD positions, both fully funded for four years, according to the labour agreement of Dutch universities. Both contain a moderate teaching load of at most 25%. The first PhD position is within the Operations Research group, the second one is within the Econometrics group. Details about the two groups can be found here: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/department-quantitative-economics.

For the Operations Research position, preference is for candidates who are interested in topics that lie on the border of optimization by the use of heuristic algorithms and (Explainable) Artificial Intelligence ((X)AI). Specifically, in this position, the chosen candidate will conduct research on how machine learning techniques or XAI can be leveraged by heuristic algorithms, or conversely, how heuristics can be enhanced by incorporating machine learning techniques. Research proposals on these topics are welcome, but not mandatory. Also candidates with a broader interest in Operations Research and/or Data Science are invited to apply.

For the Econometrics position, preference is for candidates interested at the intersection of time series econometrics and machine learning. The chosen candidate will conduct research on using machine learning methods such as artificial neural networks for modelling latent time series through state space models. Topics that can be investigated include setting up machine learning methods for handling typical features of economic and climatological time series (such as strong persistence), developing inference methods for these machine learning tools, and considering applications to macroeconomics, text analytics and climatology. Given the nature of the project, preference will be given to candidates interested in theoretical and computational research. Brief research statements of candidates are appreciated but not mandatory.

Requirements
Candidates need to hold a master's degree (or be close to completion) in operations research, econometrics, data science, mathematics, computer science, or an equivalent study program and should demonstrate excellent study results. Proficient programming skills are required (ideally Python, R , Julia or C++). Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Candidates are expected to start preferably September 1, 2025.

We have a large and culturally diverse PhD community in our department, and welcome enthusiastic, talented new PhD students.

PhD positions on Inequality Dynamics at the Department of Macro, International and Labour Economics

Job Description
The Department of Macro, International and Labour Economics (MILE) at the School of Business and Economics (SBE) of Maastricht University will offer up to 3 PhD positions, starting September 1, 2025. These positions will be for 4 years and all work under a department-wide research theme of Inequality Dynamics.

The research theme on Inequality Dynamics focuses on understanding how past, contemporary and (expected) future environmental, political, and technological transformations differentially impact economic activity and well-being of firms, individuals, and societies. Particular focus lies on understanding these transformational processes – the dynamics – and on the heterogeneous paths through which adjustments take place, where inequality enters as either a determining feature or as an observable outcome of transitions. Combining micro- and macro-level approaches from different areas and subfields in economics, the insights generated by the research of this theme shed light on a variety of relevant questions facing societies across industrialized, emerging and developing economies.

Each selected candidate will work on one of a range of parallel projects giving complementary, yet distinct insights. These could include:

• Investigating the link between central bank policies focused on the green transition and economic disparities.
• Developing empirical measures of narratives around fiscal policy and inequality, then using these to expand our understanding of the medium- to long-run effects of fiscal stabilisation policies on income and wealth inequality.
• Exploring the extent to which economic inequality is (causally) related to lifespan and health inequality, using these insights to develop inequality metrics that account for both differences in income/wealth and health/lifespan.

Requirements
Eligible candidates must have successfully completed a – preferably 2-year (120 ECTS or equivalent) – Master’s degree (MSc, MPhil or MRes) in (Quantitative) Economics, Econometrics, Computational Social Science or a related area before September 2025 and have an excellent command of English. We are looking for highly motivated candidates with strong technical skills who have a proven interest in economic research. Candidates are invited to express a preference for a specific project or propose one of their own which fits into the overall research theme. Applicants interested in submitting their own proposal are encouraged to do so within a European context.