Job Description

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy is seeking applicants for its

Albert O. Hirschman Postdoc Program

(Berlin or Kiel Office)

The Kiel Institute is proud to launch a new postdoctoral fellow program in honor of Albert O. Hirschman – who was born in Berlin, fled Nazi Germany, and became an eminent scholar in international economics, development economics, geoeconomics and international political economy. Hirschman valued creativity over conformity and left a lasting mark on economics and the social sciences. In his spirit, the program seeks to bring together exceptional young economists who are eager to pursue bold, relevant questions in international economics and help shape the future of the field.


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Our PostDoc program

The Albert O. Hirschman PostDoc program in Berlin / Kiel is highly selective and will admit up to five postdoctoral participants per year, aiming to build a small, cohesive cohort. The first cohort will start on 1 September 2026. Participants can choose to work in our offices in Berlin or Kiel, embedded in the Kiel Institute’s research environment and broader policy network. We expect participants to pursue independent research at the highest international standards, to engage with our seminar culture, and to contribute—by choice and fit—to supervision and collaborative projects.



The program focuses on international economics broadly defined, including fields such as international trade, international finance, macroeconomics, development, climate economics, as well as geoeconomics and security.



Contracts will be offered for one or two years, depending on the job market outcome. A one-year appointment is intended for candidates who plan to accept a subsequent position (for example, an Assistant Professorship). A two-year appointment is intended for candidates without a confirmed follow-up position.



Career development is a central feature of the program. Each participant will have one or more professors of the Kiel Institute as mentors and a small “peer board” of senior scholars (including external professors) for strategy and placement advice. We will organize structured job-market preparation for candidates joining for two years, including paper polishing, application materials, mock interviews and talks, and targeted placement mentoring. Participants may also receive tailored grant-writing training.


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What we offer

Participants will control an own budget to hire research assistants, for conference travel, research stays abroad, or to run a seminar series or mini workshop with external speakers. Teaching and administrative duties will be kept to a minimum, but we offer teaching practice opportunities at partner universities, as well as participation in selected ASP training courses to learn state-of-the-art methods. Furthermore, the group will receive financing and support to present and network at major Kiel–CEPR conferences—such as those on China, Africa, Geoeconomics, and the Kiel Trade Summit— which offer direct exposure to top scholars and policymakers.



Postdocs will earn a gross annual salary approximately in the €56k–€79k range, depending on experience and qualification, with a German TV-L E13 (100%) contract with full social security coverage, including health insurance. Participants benefit from travel and research support and from a family-friendly environment including paid parental leave in line with German law (with contracts extended for the duration of parental leave). Office space, IT support, and access to Institute data resources are provided at the host location.


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Your profile

To be eligible, applicants must hold a PhD in economics or a closely related field that was awarded within the three years preceding the program start, or must have formally submitted the dissertation by 1 September 2026 (with defense shortly thereafter). Strong written and spoken English is required; German is not required. We particularly welcome applications from researchers working on geoeconomics and security and aim to admit at least 50% women to the program. Eligibility is open to all nationalities.


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How to apply

Applications for the 2026 intake are due November 30, 2025, with decisions by January 2026. The application file should include a CV, a cover letter, a research statement, a job market paper (or comparable writing sample), and two or three confidential letters of reference submitted directly. In the cover letter, applicants should indicate the preferred host location (Kiel or Berlin), and name one or two potential mentors. For selection, we place special attention to research excellence and potential for field-leading contributions.



For additional information, please contact Sonja Peterson.

For questions regarding this position please contact

Prof. Dr. Sonja Peterson

Kiel Institute Researcher