Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter/Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am Lehrstuhl fürPublic Economicsund DFG Graduiertenkolleg 2720: "Digital Platform Ecosystems (DPE)"

The University of Passau owes its strong visibility and good repute to excellent research, innovative teaching and its tight-knit international academic networks. Some 11,000 students and more than 1,300 staff study and work on our university campus, which is located a stone’s throw from the historical Old Town of Passau and combines state-of-the-art technical infrastructure with award-winning architecture. Internationally successful high-tech companies and a vibrant start-up scene, coupled with a rich culture and Lower Bavarian traditions, give Passau and the surrounding area a special appeal that makes it a great place to live and work.
 

The Chair of Public Economics (Professor Stefan Bauernschuster) and the DFG Research Training Group 2720 “Digital Platform Ecosystems” (DPE) at the University of Passau invite applications for the position of

Doctoral Researcher
(Ph.D. Candidate) in the area of digital platform ecosystems

to start at the earliest convenience.

This is a fully funded part-time position (75% FTE), based on a fixed-term contract with social security and healthcare contributions. Remuneration is in accordance with pay grade E13 of the German public-sector collective agreement, TV-L, and currently ranges from 44.493 € (step 1) to 50.172 € (step 3) annually; the salary step depends on your qualifications and experience. The position is intended to be awarded for three years. Continued employment from October 2028 onward is subject to renewal of project funding.
 

What we seek

• You are a highly motivated postgraduate with an excellent master’s degree in economics or a related field of study.
• Very good analytical skills and most importantly a keen interest in applied microeconomics and microeconometrics.
• Willingness to approach policy-relevant problems in the fields of labour, population, health, environmental or education economics using microeconometric techniques. A particular interest in questions related to digital platforms (social media, e-learning, ride-hailing, short-term homestay etc.) would be an advantage.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team, open-mindedness, and the motivation to work on a research project independently and diligently.
• Excellent spoken and written English language skills. Knowledge of German is not a requirement.

What we offer

• The opportunity to pursue doctoral study at a renowned German university as part of a particularly strong research team with internationally recognised research activities at the highest scholarly level (see https://www.wiwi.uni-passau.de/en/public-economics/research).
• Membership in the interdisciplinary Research Training Group 2720 Digital Platform Ecosystems (see http://www.dpe.uni-passau.de/en/ for details and activities) funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
• Your own research budget for conference visits and hiring student workers to assist with research.
• No formal teaching obligation but opportunities to participate in and contribute to the Chair’s teaching portfolio.
• A tailored and structured doctoral programme; a fully funded research visit abroad, external course programme (summer schools, workshops); co-supervision by international scholars and much more. The research training programme is designed such that students are enabled to complete their doctoral degree within three years.
• You will participate regularly in international conferences, become integrated into an international research network and contribute to public discourse on digital platforms.
• Excellent infrastructure including IT equipment on one of Germany’s most beautiful university campuses.

How to apply

• Please visit www.dpe.uni-passau.de/en/application for details on the application process.
• You can apply at any time, as we will be accepting applications until the position is filled.
• We will start reviewing received applications on 31st of May 2026.
• This position is under the primary supervision of Professor Stefan Bauernschuster (https://www.wiwi.uni-passau.de/en/public-economics/). If you have any further questions, please contact stefan.bauernschuster@uni-passau.de

The University of Passau wishes to increase the proportion of its female staff and expressly encourages women to apply for this position.

The position is suitable for candidates with disabilities. Those who are registered disabled are given preference over non-disabled applicants who do not otherwise have statutory preferential status if their overall personal aptitudes, skills and qualifications are equal.

Emailed applications are kept on file for six months after the conclusion of the appointment procedure, whereupon they are deleted from our systems. Please visit www.uni-passau.de/en/university/current-vacancies for our data privacy policy.

DFG Research Training Group 2720 “Digital Platform Ecosystems” · University of Passau · Dr.-Hans-
Kapfinger-Str. 16 · 94032 Passau, Germany
https://dpe.uni-passau.de