The University of Zurich's Department of Economics is offering a pre-doctoral fellowship focused on economic development and rural finance, with a particular emphasis on Sub-Saharan Africa. This 1-2 year, full-time, in-person position is designed for recent graduates interested in gaining research experience before pursuing a PhD in economics or related fields. The fellowship is supervised by Professor Lorenzo Casaburi, a leading development economist specializing in land markets, rural finance, and field experiments in Africa.

The research areas include economic development, rural finance, agricultural economics, land markets in developing regions, and causal inference in development economics. Fellows will participate in all stages of research projects, including brainstorming, literature reviews, project management, data analysis, programming, manuscript preparation, and field experiment design. The position offers a unique opportunity to work with administrative databases and gain on-the-job learning in academic research.

Applicants should have completed a Master's or Bachelor's degree in the last five years, with strong grades in economics or a quantitative social science and a solid mathematics background. Technical skills in Stata, R, or Python are required, along with strong quantitative analysis and programming abilities. Candidates should be highly motivated, curious, and committed to research and learning, with fluency in English. 1-3 confidential recommendation letters from professors or research supervisors are required. Preferred qualifications include knowledge of causal inference, previous research experience, excellent academic performance, high GRE Quantitative score, completion of MITx MicroMasters courses, and strong project management skills.

The fellowship is ideal for those seeking academic research experience, preparing for PhD programs, or exploring research-focused careers in development economics. International applicants are welcome, and no prior Swiss work permit is required. The program includes mentorship from Professor Casaburi and participation in funded research projects, though specific funding details are not provided.

To apply, candidates must submit all required documents (CV, cover letter, academic transcripts, copies of degrees, recommendation letters, and answers to application questions) via the University of Zurich's online application form. The application deadline is January 31, 2026, with review beginning January 20, 2026. For more information, visit the University of Zurich job portal or contact the department.