Junior professorship „Economics, in particular Behavioral Economics“ (W1)

HUMANISTIC. SUSTAINABLE. ENTREPRENEURIAL. 

Leuphana University of Lüneburg stands for innovation in research and education. Methodological diversity, interdisciplinary collaboration, transdisciplinary cooperation with partners outside academia and a dynamic development characterize its research profile in the fields of education, culture, management & technology, sustainability as well as public affairs. Its award-winning study model is organized into the Leuphana College, the Leuphana Graduate School and the Leuphana Professional School. 

Leuphana University invites applications for the following junior professorship: 

— ECONOMICS, IN PARTICULAR BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS (W1) 

For this junior professorship we seek candidates with a research focus on behavioral economics (e.g., with links to fields such as “digitalization/artificial intelligence”, “future of work”, “population/family economics”, or “educational economics”). Your research meets the highest standards for empirical studies using experimental and/or microeconometric methods. You strive to further develop your internationally oriented empirical research program to make a contribution to the institute’s research profile, in particular to the newly established research cluster “Behavioral Economics and Societal Transformation”. 

You will be expected to contribute significantly to the School of Public Affairs’ profile by activities in international highly accepted research, acquisition of external funding, and high quality teaching. 

Your research program is visible in a developing track record of first papers in international peer-reviewed journals and a publication strategy that shows a potential for publication in top-tier journals. Ideally, you have your own ideas of how your research findings will be integrated into teaching and knowledge transfer activities. 

You should have initial experience in the acquisition of externally funded projects (e.g., supporting research proposal applications, submitting research proposals, acquiring grants, collaborating on larger applications, experience with the handling of third-party funding projects), which indicates a successful approach to the acquisition of third-party funding as well as supporting the development of a viable third-party funding strategy during the junior professorship. Ideally, you have already successfully acquired third-party funding on your own, preferably in renowned research programs. 

In teaching, the successful candidate will make a substantial contribution, mostly in English, in the Economics major and minor in the bachelor’s program and the master’s program. You will teach microeconomics classes at all levels. Therefore, you hold relevant teaching experience and can verify your ability to deliver courses in English at a high level. International experience, such as a Ph.D. from a leading international university or other substantial international teaching or research experience is highly appreciated. Also, if you do not speak German, you are ready and willing to learn it within a reasonable period of time. 

For this position, we seek a committed early-stage researcher who shows promise of excellence in teaching and research. Formal requirements for employment (paygrade W1) are based on §30 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG), and include: a university degree in a discipline relevant to the open position; your aptitude for teaching; and your ability to engage in independent academic research as demonstrated by the outstanding quality of your dissertation in a field relevant to this position. 

The junior professorship will be filled in accordance with pay grade W1 and is initially limited to a period of three years. The position will be extended for an additional three years, subject to a positive academic evaluation (in accordance with the guidelines for the mid-term evaluation of junior professors of Leuphana University Lüneburg). 

At Leuphana, you will find an academic community that is open to changes in perspective and cultivates the dialogue among the different disciplines as well as between research and practice. With spirit and initiative, we address the challenges of civil society in the 21st century. Pursuing our idea of liberal education, we enable our students to think, reflect and act upon it. Our professors foster the awareness of gender and diversity aspects in teaching and research. 

Leuphana University is an equal opportunities employer. The university aims to increase its number of female professors. Qualified women are especially invited to apply. Severely disabled applicants and applicants with equivalent status will be considered preferentially in accordance with the applicable legal provisions. 

The Dean of the School of Public Affairs, Prof. Dr. Michael Koss (michael.koss@leuphana.de), as well as Prof. Dr. Mario Mechtel (mario.mechtel@leuphana.de) at the Institute of Economics are available as contact persons. 

Please submit your application (without submission of an application photo) consisting of the following materials in two separate PDF files: a) motivation letter, CV, research concept addressing potentials for cooperation in the research cluster ”Behavioral Economics and Societal Transformation“ (max. 2 pages), copies of academic degrees and b) two relevant publications and/or manuscripts currently submitted or about to be submitted to a journal. Please enclose the completed application form (as Excel file) with your documents.  

Applications should be sent preferably via email using the keyword “Behavioral Economics” (W1) beko@leuphana.de or to the President of Leuphana University Lüneburg, Post Box 2440, Lüneburg D-21314 by September 21, 2025. 

Please be aware that we cannot return application documents sent physically. By submitting your application, you consent to your data being stored and processed for the purpose of the recruitment process. 

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