Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in Public Economics

The Chair of Public Finance at the Department of Economics, Kiel University (Germany), invites applications for a

Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in Public Economics,

starting in October 2026. The position is initially offered for 3 years, with the possibility of extension. Remuneration follows the German public-sector pay scale (TV-L E14), based on qualifications and experience. The regular weekly working hours correspond to those of a full-time employee (currently 38.7 hours). The teaching load amounts to 4 hours per week.

This position offers an excellent opportunity to pursue your own research agenda in public economics within a dynamic, collaborative and supportive team. We provide support toward a habilitation or an equivalent advanced academic qualification. In addition to developing your own research, you will contribute to the Chair’s ongoing activities in research, teaching, and administration, gaining valuable experience in an internationally recognized research environment. For more information about our current activities, please visit: https://www.fiso.vwl.uni-kiel.de/

Your profile:

• Doctoral degree in economics (to be completed before starting the position), with a specialization in empirical or theoretical public economics
• Research focus preferably in the area of tax policy or social insurance
• Demonstrated potential for high-quality scholarly publications
• Experience in teaching and in securing third-party funding is an advantage
• Successful Master’s degree in economics or a closely related field (equivalent to a German grade of 2.0 or better)
• Excellent command of German and English (comparable to C1 level, a formal proof is not necessary), with the ability to teach in both languages

Kiel University sees itself as a modern and cosmopolitan employer. We welcome your application regardless of your age, gender, cultural and social origin, religion, worldview, disability or sexual identity. We support gender equality. You can read more about our values in our Code of Conduct.

The University also supports the employment of disabled persons. Persons with disabilities will, with appropriate qualification and aptitudes, be employed preferentially.

We also support the application of people with a foreign background.

The University strongly encourages women with appropriate qualifications to apply for the position. Women with equivalent qualifications, competence and expertise will be given preference.

Applicants are requested to send their electronic application by February 20th, 2026 in a single PDF file to [email protected]. Please include a cover letter, a CV, academic transcripts, teaching evaluations (if possible), and a current research paper. Please refrain from submitting application photos. Optional letters of recommendation may be sent directly by the referees. Interviews will take place virtually if necessary.

For further information about the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Sebastian Köhne, [email protected].