Open PhD Positions

Open PhD Positions

  • Fully Funded PhD Position in Economics and Finance (Supervisor: Prof. Tomáš Havránek, Ph.D.)

    The Institute of Economic Studies invites applications to its PhD program in Economics and Finance under the supervision of Prof. Tomáš Havránek (Professor of Economics at Charles University, Research Affiliate at CEPR and at the Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford). The position is fully funded and aimed at applicants interested in meta-analysis, publication and attenuation biases, and empirical methods in economics.

    The successful candidate will join an active research group that has produced dozens of meta-analyses across macroeconomics, labor, finance, development, and energy economics, with publications in outlets such as Nature Communications, Review of Economics and Statistics, Journal of Labor Economics, Journal of the European Economic Association, and Journal of International Economics. The work will combine large meta-analytic datasets, advanced econometrics, and the development and application of new tools for correcting publication bias, p-hacking, and spurious precision (see, for example, meta-analysis.cz and easymeta.org).

    Profile of the applicant

    A prospective applicant should:

    • Hold a master’s degree in economics, finance, statistics, or a closely related field.
    • Have a strong background in econometrics and clear interest in causal inference and evidence synthesis.
    • Possess solid programming skills (ideally R; experience with Python is an advantage).
    • Be comfortable working with large datasets and reproducible code.
    • Have excellent written and spoken English and strong motivation to publish in international journals.

    The applicant’s research proposal should be well aligned with the supervisor’s agenda, especially in areas such as publication and identification biases, p-hacking, spurious precision in observational research, Bayesian evidence synthesis (e.g., RoBMA/WAIVE/MAIVE), and applied meta-analyses in economics and finance.

    A prerequisite for the position is a full commitment to completing the doctoral studies within four years or earlier.

    The PhD position is linked to a full-time Junior Researcher post with a net salary of EUR 1300–1500 per month.

    Full information about the admission process is available on the program’s webpage.
    Research-related questions may be directed via https://meta-analysis.cz or https://www.tomashavranek.cz

  • Fully Funded PhD Position in Public Economics (Supervisors: Petr Janský, Miroslav Palanský)

    The Institute of Economic Studies, the Charles University economics department, is looking for talented and driven master's graduates (or 2nd-year students) interested in public economics to join its PhD programme in Economics and Finance. The position is fully funded.
    Supervisors: Petr Janský, Miroslav Palanský
    Duration: October 2026 to September 2030
    Areas of focus:

    • Multinational companies
    • Corporate taxation
    • Corporate investment
    • Global minimum tax reform

    What we are looking for
    We are looking for talented individuals with a keen interest in economics research who have graduated from or are currently completing a master's programme in economics (or in a related field). We expect candidates to be interested in learning new research skills and in conducting high-quality, policy-relevant applied economics research. They should be able to work with other researchers on empirical economics papers to be presented at international academic conferences and published in leading academic journals.
    The positions are equivalent to the research part of US-style PhD programmes. We expect candidates to have completed their graduate coursework within economics or a related field before enrolling in our PhD programme. Selected candidates will, however, have the option to enroll in graduate-level courses at Charles University to deepen their training in relevant research methods.
    What we offer
    All PhD positions advertised here are linked to a full-time Junior Researcher position with a net monthly salary of EUR 1,500 or more. 
    Charles University
    The PhD programme in Economics and Finance is based at the Institute of Economic Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague. Charles University is the oldest and most prestigious university in the Czech Republic, and it is consistently ranked #1 in the country among economics departments offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Internationally, it ranks among the top 100 economics institutions in Europe according to IDEAS Repec (top 30 based on data from the last 10 years). It is also home to an internationally renowned research group on multinational taxation, CORPTAX, where some of the advertised PhD positions will be based, and the Centre for Public Finance.
    The Institute of Economic Studies is highly international. Almost all courses are taught in English, and a large share of students at all levels (PhD students in particular) come from abroad. 
    The research group
    The Junior Researcher positions will be hosted by a dynamic research group, including 2 lead researchers (Petr Janský, Miroslav Palanský) and about 10 current PhD students conducting research in applied public economics, with a particular focus on multinational companies, corporate taxation, corporate investment, and global minimum tax reform. The group has access to unique administrative datasets (e.g. tax returns of multinationals). It collaborates with researchers at leading institutions such as the University of Oxford, University College Dublin, the Paris School of Economics, the OECD and the World Bank, and it supports PhD students to visit these and other institutions for extended research stays, and also to frequently present their research findings at leading international academic conferences.
    Application process
    There is a separate application for the Junior Research positions and for admission to the PhD programme.
    1) Application for the Junior Researcher positions: Applications are now open. Candidates can apply by filling the form here. We accept applications on a rolling basis, and earlier applications have a higher chance of success. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews (conducted online). The selection process will be completed in around March 2026, so the successful candidates have time to prepare their formal applications to the PhD programme (see below). Offers for the Junior Researcher positions will be conditional on being accepted to the PhD programme.
    2) Application to the PhD programme: The deadline for applications to the PhD programme is April 30. For the university website for information about the application process.
    We are looking forward to your applications. Do not hesitate to reach out with enquiries by email to the lead researchers: petr.jansky@fsv.cuni.cz, miroslav.palansky@fsv.cuni.cz.

  • Fully Funded PhD in Finance, Data Analytics & Machine Learning (Supervisor: Prof. Jozef Baruník)

    The Institute of Economic Studies (IES), Charles University, invites applications from highly
    motivated, rigorously trained candidates for a fully funded PhD position at the intersection
    of finance, econometrics, and modern machine learning under the supervision of Prof.
    PhDr. Jozef Baruník, Ph.D. We seek researchers who are method-driven, technically strong,
    and determined.

    Why this PhD now: AI is reshaping finance
    Machine learning and AI are transforming how financial institutions price risk, allocate
    capital, trade, manage portfolios, detect anomalies, and build decision systems. This
    project targets research that goes beyond “black-box prediction” toward robust,
    interpretable, and economically meaningful ML—where careful evaluation, identification,
    and reproducibility matter as much as performance.

    Research focus
    The successful candidate will work on frontier topics combining financial market dynamics
    and asset pricing with state-of-the-art AI/ML.

    What we’re looking for
    We are specifically looking for candidates who want to do serious ML in finance—not just
    apply off-the-shelf models. Ideal applicants will have:

    • A strong foundation in econometrics/statistics and a genuine interest in rigorous
      inference
    • Interest in modern machine learning (optimization, generalization, representation
      learning, validation under shift)
    • Strong programming skills in Python, R, Julia, or MATLAB; experience with
      reproducible pipelines is a plus
    • Comfort working with large datasets (including high-frequency or alternative data)
      and computational workflows
    • The drive to produce research suitable for top-tier journals
      Applicants should hold (or be near completion of) a Master’s degree in Economics, Finance,
      Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
      Funding and position

    The PhD position is linked to a full-time Junior Researcher appointment, with a net
    monthly salary of approximately €1,300–€1,500.

    Research environment

    You will have access to high-quality data, strong research support, and opportunities to
    collaborate with international research networks. Expectations are high: focused work,
    rigorous methodology, and transparent, reproducible research.

    How to apply / contact
    Details and application procedures: https://barunik.github.io

  • Fully Funded PhD Position in Applied Microeconomics (Supervisor: Matěj Bajgar, DPhil.)

    The Institute of Economic Studies, Charles University, is looking for talented and driven students to apply for a fully funded PhD position in Economics and Finance under the supervision of Matěj Bajgar (Oxford PhD; formerly OECD; publications in Journal of Public Economics, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, and Economic Journal).

    Why this PhD now: Industrial policy is back!

    After decades of decline, industrial policy has returned to center stage. The Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS Act, and European Green Deal represent a fundamental shift in how governments approach innovation and strategic objectives. Yet critical questions remain: How can governments support emergence of new industries? What are the most effective ways of funding science and innovation? Which activities generate the most spillovers? This is a unique moment to conduct research that shapes policies worth hundreds of billions of euros.

    Research focus

    Successful candidates will work on cutting-edge research combining rich administrative microdata with state-of-the-art causal inference methods, focusing on:

    • Industrial policy evaluation (business subsidies, public procurement, tax incentives)
    • R&D policy effectiveness and science funding impacts
    • Innovation economics (firm dynamics, technology adoption, knowledge spillovers)
    • Applications in specific sectors (creative industries, green technology)

    The positions are linked to the Primus grant "Towards Evidence-Based Industrial Policy," providing access to unique datasets and international collaborations.

    Profile of the applicant

    We seek candidates who:

    • Hold (or are completing) a Master's degree in Economics, Finance, Statistics, or a related quantitative field
    • Have a strong foundation in applied microeconometrics and interest in causal inference
    • Are comfortable with, or willing to learn, quasi-experimental methods (difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, bunching estimators…)
    • Possess solid programming skills in Stata and/or R
    • Have excellent English communication skills and ambition to publish in top journals
    • Are motivated by policy-relevant research that influences real-world decision-making

    What we offer

    Funding: The PhD position is linked to a full-time Junior Researcher appointment with a net monthly salary of EUR 1,500 or more.

    Research environment: You will join a dynamic research group of approximately 10 PhD students focused on public economics, innovation, and industrial policy.

    International opportunities: PhD students are encouraged and supported to spend extended research visits at top universities abroad, present at leading conferences, and co-author with internationally recognized researchers.

    Data access: Unique administrative datasets including comprehensive data on business subsidies and public procurement, Czech administrative records linking firm financials, R&D, innovation outcomes, and patents, confidential microdata through international collaborations.

    Policy impact: Research will directly inform policy discussions. PhD students can join ongoing collaborations with key public actors in the Czech science and innovation ecosystem (GAČR, TAČR, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance) as well as the OECD, the World Bank and various European institutions.

    Charles University

    Charles University is the oldest and most prestigious university in the Czech Republic, ranked #1 in the country for economics. The Institute of Economic Studies ranks among the top 100 economics institutions worldwide. The Institute is highly international, with courses taught in English and a large share of PhD students from abroad.

    Application process

    There is a separate application for the Junior Research positions and for admission to the PhD programme.

    1) Applications for the Junior Researcher position are now open. Candidates can apply by filling the form here. We accept applications on a rolling basis, and earlier applications have a higher chance of success. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews (conducted online). The selection process will be completed in March 2026, so the successful candidates have time to prepare their formal applications to the PhD programme (see below). Offers for the Junior Researcher positions will be conditional on being accepted to the PhD programme.

    2) Application to the PhD programme: The deadline for applications to the PhD programme is April 30. For the university website for information about the application process.

    We are looking forward to your applications. Do not hesitate to reach out with enquiries by email to matej.bajgar@fsv.cuni.cz.