Duration: up to 33 months, beginning in September/October 2023

The University of Barcelona School of Economics is seeking a skilled and motivated Pre-Doctoral Research Assistant to support a Horizon EU-funded project. The project is related to the study of spatial mobility and the green and digital transition in EU regions. Candidates are expected to develop the PhD in this area, following literature strands:

− Theoretical frameworks and mechanisms forming spatial mobility

− Empirical literature devoted to the study of the drivers of spatial mobility

− Evolution of the green and digital transition within the EU

The research team is composed by members of the UB School of Economics, including Vicente Royuela (the project coordinator at UB), Raul Ramos, Antonio di Paolo, Jordi Suriñach and Jordi López-Tamayo, all members of the AQR-IREA Research Group.

The candidate is expected to develop his/her PhD within topics related to the project, supervised by members of the project’s research team. The start is expected for September 2023.

The University of Barcelona is a leading centre in southern Europe, with a strong commitment to excellence in research. It enjoys a long tradition of teaching, offering both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs in the field of Economics and Business. In this framework, UB School of Economics provides an important platform for research and graduate education in Economics, as it encompasses the master’s and the Doctoral program in Economics, which are entirely taught in English (www.ub.edu/school-economics).

The Regional Quantitative Analysis Group (AQR) is located in the Department of Econometrics, Statistics and Applied Economics at the University of Barcelona. The main research activity of the group is focused in Applied Economics, with a special emphasis on the analysis of Urban and Regional issues. Among the main research lines, we can mention those of migration, economic growth and convergence, externalities, human capital, labour market, knowledge economy, firm location, and development of synthetic and strategic indicators. AQR has been involved in the Horizon Europe Programmes for years, leading different projects.

Essential skills:

− Excellent quantitative and data analysis skills for economic research

− Proficiency in Stata

− Committed and collaborative team player with the ability to work constructively and effectively with international and interdisciplinary research partners

− Able to manage their own areas of responsibility independently without constant direct supervision

− High levels of accuracy and attention to detail, along with a demonstrated ability to take responsibility for the delivery of research outputs

− Good writing skills in English

− Ability to undertake literature reviews and synthesise evidence effectively

Preferred skills (but not essential):

− Experience in working in multidisciplinary teams and/or in development settings

− Interest and enthusiasm for working on the project topic

Applications:

Only complete applications will be considered. Candidates must:

− Apply to PhD program in Economics (see requirements and documentation: http://www.ub.edu/school-economics/phd-in-economics/). Deadline: 31 March 2023.

− Send a short letter (500 words max) to school.economics@ub.edu and aqr@ub.edu indicating: your past experience, interest in the areas covered by the project, why you would be a great candidate for this job, and what you expect to like the most and least about the position with the following email subject RA Spatial Mobility. Deadline: 31 March 2023.