Academic position in International Economics

Research
The Department of Economics offers an active and internationally oriented research environment. We look for a dynamic, motivated and internationally oriented researcher, active in the field of International Economics. Excellent candidates with a focus in other fields are not excluded.
The qualified candidate will conduct research in close collaboration with members of the department and contribute to the department’s research agenda. You will initiate new research projects, attract the necessary research funding, and expand international collaboration. The candidate will strive for excellence in research and as such will contribute to the reputation of the Faculty of Economics and Business. 

Teaching
The candidate will teach courses in economics at the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral level, with the specific courses assigned depending on the profile of the candidate. The candidate is expected to meet the KU Leuven educational standards for academic curricula with a strong commitment to quality of education. The candidate is also expected to supervise master theses and to act as an advisor to PhD students. Tenure track candidates start with limited teaching duties.

The candidate will develop a teaching style in line with the KU Leuven perspective on activating and research based education (see: Education at KU Leuven), and will take advantage of the opportunities to professionalize teaching skills offered by the university. The candidate will contribute to the educational project of the university, and will show the necessary commitment to uphold the high standards of its programs.

Service
You show a willingness to integrate in the research group, to actively participate in and contribute to professional group activities, and to take up internal service duties. You put teaching and research activities at the service of society and aim to contribute to the broader social debate. Tenure track candidates start with limited service duties.

Profile
Interested candidates should hold (or obtain prior to the start date of employment) a Ph.D. in Economics or in a related field.

Candidates are expected to have an excellent research record. The quality of the candidate’s research should be demonstrated by publications in top international peer-reviewed journals. Junior applicants (pre-tenure) can demonstrate research excellence with promising ongoing research projects or papers and academic references.

You can show evidence of strong didactical skills and preferably have teaching experience.

Your written and spoken English is excellent. The official administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not speak it well) at the start of employment, you can follow language training provided by KU Leuven to enable you to take part in administrative meetings. Before teaching courses in Dutch, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch to the required standard.

Offer
The vacancy is open to both junior and senior researchers. PhD students in the final phase of their studies may also apply. The successful candidate will be hired in the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or (Full) Professor depending on qualifications and academic experience. Junior researchers will be appointed as Assistant Professor in a tenure track for a period of 5 years, which in case of a positive evaluation is followed by an appointment as a tenured Associate Professor.

We offer a dynamic and internationally oriented research environment. For more information, please consult: Department of Economics.
The Department of Economics operates on both the Leuven and Brussels campuses of the Faculty of Economics and Business. Leuven is a historical town, but also a dynamic and vibrant city in the center of Belgium. It lies within a twenty-minute drive from Brussels, the capital of Belgium and of the European Union, and less than two hours from Paris, London and Amsterdam.

In recent years, several independent accreditation commissions have systematically ranked the Faculty of Economics and Business highly in terms of quality of teaching and research. The faculty has acquired EQUIS accreditation and benefits from an extensive national and international network both in academia and in the business world.

KU Leuven is well set to welcome foreign professors and their family and provides practical support with regard to immigration & administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, and partner career coaching, among others. To facilitate scientific onboarding and accelerate research in the first phase a starting grant of 110 000 euro is offered to new professors, appointed for at least 50%. For more information, please consult: Working at the Faculty of Economics and Business and Life at KU Leuven.

The KU Leuven pursues a policy of equal opportunity and diversity and explicitly encourages underrepresented groups at the university to apply.

Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Hylke Vandenbussche or Prof. dr. Christian Pröbsting, co-chairs of the Search Committee or Prof. dr. Sophie De Winne, Dean, Faculty of Economics and Business.

External reference letters can be uploaded at www.econjobmarket.org or sent directly to Evi Fosse. More detailed information on the job application procedure and the documents that need to be uploaded, can be found on the following website: Job application procedure.

KU Leuven places great importance on research integrity and ethical conduct and will therefore ask you to sign an integrity statement upon appointment.

For problems with online applying, please contact solliciteren@kuleuven.be.

You can apply for this job no later than November 17, 2025 via the online application tool

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

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