Phd candidate
On-Site
OPEN
The Institute of Economics at TU Braunschweig invites applications for a PhD candidate or Postdoctoral researcher (m/f/d) to work in the DFG-funded joint research project “Metal Trade, Empires and War: New Data and Methods in Ancient Economic History.” The position is fixed-term for three years, remunerated at 75% TV-L E13 and may be extended up to a total of six years under mutual agreement and subject to available funding. The intended start date is 1 April 2026 (flexible by agreement). The position is based in Braunschweig.
The project is conducted as a joint research effort with the Seminar für Ur- und Frühgeschichte (Prof. Rahmstorf) at the University of Göttingen within a coordinated DFG framework. The cooperation includes joint workshops, regular research exchange, and collaboration on shared data infrastructure.
What we offer
• Close collaboration with international scholars within a coordinated DFG research project.
• Funding for research stays, conferences, and workshops.
• An international and interdisciplinary research environment.
Your tasks
• Contribute to the DFG joint research project through independent and collaborative research.
• Conduct data construction, management, and quantitative empirical analysis, including historical, spatial, and text-based data using among others, off-the-shelf machine learning models
• Participate in project workshops, conferences, and collaborative research activities.
Your qualification
• For PhD applicants: an excellent Master in Economics; for postdoctoral applicants: a completed PhD in Economics or a closely related field.
• Quantitative and programming skills:
– PhD applicants: solid background in quantitative methods and willingness to acquire skills in programming and machine learning.
– Postdoctoral applicants: strong background in quantitative methods and programming (e.g. R, Python, Stata); experience with machine learning or text-as-data is mandatory.
• Excellent command of English and German, and willingness to collaborate closely with project partners in Göttingen.
Please submit your application by 28 February 2026, including your motivation, transcript of records and CV, to Prof. Dr. Markus Ludwig: markus.ludwig@tu-braunschweig.de.
We welcome applicants of all nationalities. At the same time, we encourage people with severe disabilities to apply. Applications from severely disabled persons will be given preference if they are equally qualified. Please attach a proof of disability to your application. We are also working on the fulfilment of the Central Equality Plan based on the Lower Saxony Equal Rights Act (Niedersächsisches Gleichberechtigungsgesetz—NGG) and strive to reduce under-representation in all areas and positions as defined by the NGG. Therefore, applications from women are particularly welcome in this case. The personal data will be stored for the purpose of processing the application. By submitting your application, you agree that your data may be stored and processed electronically for application purposes in compliance with the provisions of data protection law. Further information on data protection can be found in our data protection regulations at https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/datenschutzerklaerung-bewerbungen. Application costs cannot be reimbursed.
