Organisation/Company: University of Essex
Research Field: Economics » Applied economics, Economics » Macroeconomics, Economics » Social economics
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions: Postdoc Positions
Country: United Kingdom
Application Deadline: 17 Mar 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/London)
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Negotiable
Hours Per Week: up to 35
Offer Starting Date: 1 Apr 2026
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
Department of Economics at the University of Essex currently launches a call for Expression of Interest to apply for the MSCA European Postdoctoral Fellowships. This highly regarded fellowship gives candidates the opportunity to pursue a two-year research project under the supervision of an experienced academic within the field.
Eligible candidates must hold a PhD, have a maximum of 8 years of research experience from the time the PhD was awarded, and cannot have lived or worked in the UK for 12 months or more over the past three years. Additional details of the eligibility rules are given below.
About the Department
The Department of Economics is ranked 4th among all UK economics departments for research power (REF 2021). The University of Essex is ranked in the top category for teaching excellence (TEF 2017). The Department of Economics provides a vibrant research environment and has a strong collegial culture. It is a growing department, currently comprising just above 50 full-time academics, working in a variety of areas in microeconomics, macroeconomics, applied economics and econometrics. The University of Essex is located 60 miles northeast of London. For more information about the department and its programmes, see www.essex.ac.uk/economics.
The Department of Economics is also home to the Essex Behavioural Science Lab (ESSEXLab), a state-of-the-art research facility supporting experimental and behavioural science studies across all faculties. ESSEXLab offers advanced infrastructure for conducting computer-based and interactive experiments, including eye-tracking and facial emotion recognition technologies. Complementing the lab, the Essex Centre for Behavioural Science fosters interdisciplinary collaboration among over 100 researchers, aiming to influence policy, practice, and understanding to address global challenges.
We are looking to support a small number of high-quality applications in the following areas of specialisation:
* Macro: structural models of labour markets; search and matching models
* Behavioural and experimental economics: decisions under risk and uncertainty, social preferences, strategic behaviour in games, and behavioural finance.
* Applied empirical economics in labour, education and health fields
* Applied: Thomas Cornelissen, Emma Duchini, Marco Francesconi, Francesca Salvati and Xiaoyu Xia
Candidates are also encouraged to identify which member(s) of staff they would prefer to work with in the economics department (not limited to the above-listed faculty members).
Description of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral European Fellowship
The purpose of the MSCA European Postdoctoral Fellowship is to support the career development and training of researchers through international mobility. The scheme is open to researchers of any nationality who wish to engage in R&I projects by either coming to Europe from any country in the world or moving within Europe. The standard duration of these fellowships must be between 12 and 24 months.
Eligibility and Candidate qualifications
* Candidates should hold a PhD degree on the closing date for applications. Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree are also eligible to apply.
* Hold a doctoral degree in Economics.
* Have a maximum of eight years of experience in research from the date of the award of the PhD degree – the following experience will not be counted towards this maximum:
o Years of experience outside research and career breaks
o Years of experience in research in third countries, for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Countries who wish to reintegrate
* Comply with mobility rules: At the time of the call deadline (10 September 2025) researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies etc) in the UK for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.
* Candidates are also expected to have good problem solving, troubleshooting, and analytical skills, be fluent in written and spoken English, have good interpersonal and communication skills, and be able to work independently as well as within an international team.
Application and Assessment process
Interested applicants should submit:
* A one-page CV,
* An outline of the proposed research (maximum 1,500 words)
The project outline must include a brief description of:
* The purpose of the project, including the hypothesis or central research questions that the project seeks to test/answer
* Why it is important to undertake this research, including how the project contributes to the state-of-the art
* What research methodology and approach will be used
* Why the Department is an appropriate host institution.
* Which member(s) of staff they would prefer to work with
Please submit these in Word or PDF format by the 17 March 2025 to ecodm@essex.ac.uk.
If you would like to discuss your proposal further, please contact your proposed supervisor or Dr. Xiaoyu Xia at xiaoyu.xia@essex.ac.uk.
Applicants who are successful in receiving EU funding must relocate to Essex to work as a postdoctoral fellow.
All documents that you submit to Essex University, including your proposal idea, will be handled in full confidentiality and in strict compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018).
Review of expressions of interest will start after the deadline. Proposals will be evaluated based on the applicant’s qualifications and project idea, including its fit with the Department’s research areas.
Shortlisted candidates might be invited for a virtual interview in March 2024. Based on the application and interview candidates will be notified of the outcome of their applications by the 28 March 2025.
Those who are successful will be invited to develop a full MSCA PF application in collaboration with the Department and with the support of the Research and Enterprise Teams at Essex University. The final proposal will be submitted by the deadline of 10 September 2025.
The postdoctoral position (if the MSCA-PF application is successful)
The successful MSCA European Postdoctoral fellowship will be announced by the EU in February 2026. To successful applicants who are awarded the MSCA European PF, we will offer:
* A position at Essex University as a postdoctoral researcher to implement the project on a temporary contract.
* The possibility for the right candidate(s) to pursue his/her academic goals with guidance from an experienced supervisor.
* Membership in active research group and joint academic seminars and discussion groups.
* Specialised training as agreed in the proposal.
* Opportunity to collaborate with talented people and network extensively.
We would like to note that an expression of interest is not a promise of funding or position. It is an expression of interest in making a future application with the University of Essex as your host.
Indicative Timeline
* 9 April 2025: Launch of the calls for proposal
* 10 September 2025: Deadline for submitting proposals
* February 2026: Grant Agreement and signature for successful projects (TBC)
* April 2026: First EU-funded projects start (TBC)
The University of Essex is committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here.
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