Pre-Doctoral Program in Economics and Quantitative Social Sciences at University of Zurich University of Zurich in Switzerland

The University of Zurich (UZH) is inviting applications for its Pre-Doctoral Program: Global Talent, a unique opportunity for high-potential students aiming to pursue a PhD in economics or related quantitative social sciences. This program is designed to identify and nurture international talent, providing a structured pathway into one of Europe’s leading research environments. Participants benefit from specialized mentorship, advanced research training, and access to state-of-the-art resources, ensuring they are well-prepared for doctoral studies.

The pre-doctoral fellowship is a full-time, in-person commitment (70% research, 30% on-the-job learning) lasting one to two years. Fellows work closely with professors in the Department of Economics, engaging in all stages of research including brainstorming, literature reviews, project management, data analysis, and academic writing. The program fosters a vibrant, multidisciplinary community and offers extensive professional development within the Swiss higher education landscape.

Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree within the last five years in economics or a quantitative social science, with strong grades and math skills. Proficiency in STATA, R, or Python is required, and fluency in English is essential. The program is open to candidates who grew up in low- or lower-middle income countries, are first-generation university students from upper-middle income countries, or have a refugee/asylum/forced migration background. Recommendation letters (1-3) are required. Additional experience in causal inference, research, or high GRE Quant scores is advantageous but not mandatory.

Fellows receive hands-on mentoring from leading professors such as Sandro Ambühl, Lorenzo Casaburi, Ana Costa-Ramon, David Dorn, Thomas Graeber, David Hémous, Mathias Hoffmann, Ronak Jain, Dina Pomeranz, Hans-Joachim Voth, David Yanagizawa-Drott, and Ulf Zölitz. The University of Zurich offers a supportive environment with flexible working models, subsidized food, childcare, healthcare, and various employee discounts. No prior Swiss work permit is required.

The application deadline for the next evaluation batch is May 15, 2026, with recommendation letters due by May 25, 2026. Interested candidates should prepare all documents in advance and apply via the official UZH job portal. For more information, visit the program page or contact [email protected].