Call for Applications

"Regional Disparities and Economic Policy”

(Doctoral Research Training Group funded by the German Research Foundation)

The causes and consequences of regional disparities are subject to a lively debate both in academia and in public. Our Graduate Program in "Regional Disparities and Economic Policy” aims to provide an outstanding education for doctoral students in its research area while at the same time contributing to frontier research in the fields of labor, public, macro, gender, health and regional/urban economics.

Combining the expertise of 11 professors with different methodological skills, institutional knowledge, and data access from the University of Duisburg-Essen, the Ruhr-University of Bochum and the Technical University Dortmund, our research training group promises internationally visible scientific output and an excellent academic training environment for PhD candidates.

We offer up to 8 fully-funded doctoral research positions (Salary Info: 75%, TV-L E13; 3 years with the possibility of continuation funding) for the cohort of students to enter in October 2025.

What we offer

· A tailor-made qualification program, enabling high-quality PhD dissertations in three years, including targeted course-work, funding for (international) research stays, conference and summer school participation, as well as an excellent supervision environment and job market support.

· A unique research environment and infrastructure in the dynamic Ruhr Valley Region in Germany, with principal investigators from four different economics departments, an extensive network of local and international expertise that is regularly tied into the qualification and research program.

· We are dedicated to the promotion of equal opportunity and diversity and therefore encourage applications from females, minority groups, parents, and people with different national backgrounds.

· The program is in English and we support accepted international students in obtaining visa, housing, etc.

What we expect from successful candidates:

· A master’s degree in Economics or a related field (expected to be) completed by October 2025. A strong background in Economics is desired, but can to some extent be compensated by a strong background in Mathematics or Statistics.

· Advanced skills in econometrics as well as experience in programming and in dealing with large data sets is advantageous.

· A strong passion for research and a willingness to engage in one or more sub-fields within economics, including labor, public, macro, gender, or health economics, with the purpose of capturing and analyzing regional disparities in the selected field.

The RTG subscribes to the principles outlined in the Code of Ethics of the German Economic Association. We cherish values of professional and intellectual integrity, honesty, care, and transparency—and oppose any discriminatory behavior or harassment.