Research Associate, Akademisch, Datenwissenschaftler

The Chair of Economics and Politics of China (Prof. Lei Li, Ph.D.) at the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Humanities, Georg-August University of Göttingen invites applications for one Ph.D. position as:

Pay grade 13 TV-L.

This is a 75 % position, equivalent to 29.85 hours per week. The position is initially limited to three years, with the possibility of extension for up to two additional years depending on third‑party funding availability and positive evaluation. The start date is upon agreement but should be no later than April 2026. The position is designed to support early‑career researchers to pursue a doctoral degree.

The Chair conducts research in international trade, labor economics, environmental economics, and Chinese economy. Specifically, our team evaluates the economic consequences of trade disputes and economic sanctions; studies the interactions between international trade and the labor market, with a focus on migration, wage inequality, and college major choice; and explores the environmental consequences of international trade, such as deforestation and pollution.

Further information about the Chair’s research can be found at  and

• Conduct independent and collaborative research with modern econometric methods (e.g., DID, IV).
• Present research articles at international conferences and prepare them for publication in leading academic journals.
• Communicate research results to policymakers and the general public.
• Contribute to teaching and supervise bachelor and master theses within the fields of international trade and Chinese economy.
• Support with organizational tasks related to the Chair’s research projects.

• University degree (Graduate or Master’s degree), preferably in Economics or a neighboring field with substantial coursework in quantitative methods, with the overall grade “good” or better.
• Proficiency in English;
  German language skills are a big plus.
• Interest in international trade, Chinese economy, labor economics, and environmental economics.
• Good knowledge of empirical methods (panel data econometrics, causal inference) and relevant statistical software (e.g., Stata, R, Python).
• Willing to develop a research portfolio aligned with the focus of the Chair.
• Strong potential to conduct high‑quality research using quantitative methods.
• Willingness to cooperate and work within an international and interdisciplinary research group.

• Participation in exciting research projects on cutting‑edge topics, such as the economic consequences of the US‑China trade war.
• Individual support in writing the dissertation/research papers and individual career counseling and support.
• Opportunity for an integrated stay abroad, e.g., USA, China, and Switzerland.
• Support and financial assistance for participation in domestic and international conferences and workshops.
• Collegial working environment in an international team.
• Participation in courses and training programs.

Equal opportunities and disability statement:
The University of Göttingen aims to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented and therefore strongly encourages qualified women to apply. It considers itself a family‑friendly university and promotes the compatibility of science/profession and family. The position is suitable for part‑time work. The university is particularly committed to the professional participation of severely disabled employees and therefore welcomes applications from severely disabled persons.

In the case of equal qualifications, applications from persons with severe disabilities will be given preference. Any disability or equal status should be mentioned in the application to safeguard the applicant’s interests.

Please submit your application until 10 January 2025 in electronic form (a single PDF file, no larger than 8 MB) to sekr containing:

• CV
• A short letter of motivation
• Transcripts (bachelor and master) and diploma.
• Proof of English proficiency
• A list of two/three references who can provide letters if requested
• Any additional supporting materials (e.g., thesis, writing sample, research papers).

Late submissions may be considered on a rolling basis, subject to available capacity. For questions, please contact Prof. Lei Li. Ph.D. (). We look forward to your application. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for interview will be contacted.

We would like to point out that submitting the application constitutes data protection consent for the processing of your applicant data by us. For more information on the legal basis and data usage, see:
Information sheet on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):