Doctoral Researcher in Industrial Organization and Competition Economics (m/w/d)

Job description:

Doctoral Researcher in Industrial Organization and Competition Economics (m/w/d)

NEW Part-time Research and Instruction

The Chair of Economic Policy, especially Competition Economics at the Institute of Economics welcomes applications for Doctoral Researcher in Industrial Organization and Competition Economics (m/w/d)

• Application deadline: 31. August 2026
• Publication date: 4. August 2026
• Start-date: 1. October 2026
• Scope of work: Part-time position (65 %)
• Id no.:

Description

We invite applications for doctoral researcher positions. The positions will be located at the Chair of Economic Policy, especially Competition Economics at the University of Freiburg, Germany. The position is intended for candidates seeking to pursue a doctoral degree in economics within a research-oriented academic environment.

Competition economics, drawing notably on the tools of industrial organization and game theory as an economic framework, is relevant not only from an academic perspective but also from a policy and industry perspective. By considering the strategic interactions among firms, consumers, and policymakers, competition economics encompasses, in particular, the study of the sources and con-sequences of firms’ market power.

We are looking to hire highly motivated and ambitious doctoral researchers. The doctoral researchers will be expected to conduct their own research under the supervision of Prof. Germain Gaudin.

The successful candidate(s) will contribute to research in industrial organization and competition economics, including topics such as competition policy and antitrust economics, market structure and firm behaviour, digital markets and platform economics, innovation and market dynamics, regulation and public policy, consumer behaviour and market outcomes, empirical industrial organisation, and applied microeconomics.

Applicants with interests in theoretical, empirical, or experimental approaches, as well as numerical simulations, are encouraged to apply.

What We Offer:

• Integration into an active and internationally connected research environment
• Close supervision and support for doctoral studies
• Opportunities for conference participation and professional development
• Access to the University of Freiburg's doctoral courses
• Attractive employment conditions according to the German public-sector pay scale (TV-L E13)

Requirements and further details:

Applicants should possess:

• An excellent Master's degree (or be close to completion) in economics or a related field (e.g., quantitative marketing)
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Solid training in microeconomics and econometrics
• Interest in industrial organization and competition economics
• Excellent written and spoken English skills
• Knowledge of German is desirable
• Experience with statistical software (e.g., Stata, R, Python, or Julia) is desirable

We are looking for outstanding applicants with an M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) in economics. Candidates who are close to completing their M.Sc. studies are also welcome to apply. The Ph.D. provides advanced research training in competition economics and prepares graduates for careers in academia, consulting, public institutions, and regulatory or policy-related positions in the private sector.

The successful candidate(s) will:

• Conduct independent research leading to a doctoral dissertation
• Collaborate on ongoing research projects within the Chair
• Present research findings at seminars and conferences
• Support teaching activities in economics (typically tutorials and exercise sessions)
• Contribute to the academic life of the Institute

As part of their contracts, doctoral researchers will have limited teaching duties.

Funding will be granted for up to three years. The salary will be determined in accordance with TV-L E13.

Selected candidates will be offered a contract of up to three years (65% of a TV-L E13 position). The starting date will be either October 1, 2026, March 1, 2027, or April 1, 2027, to be determined jointly with Prof. Gaudin. The salary will be determined in accordance with TV-L E13.

Contact Information

For further information, please contact Prof. Germain Gaudin by phone (+49 761 203 2357) or by email

Albert‑Ludwigs‑Universität FreiburgInstitut für WirtschaftswissenschaftenAbteilung für Wirtschaftspolitik, insb. WettbewerbsökonomieUniversität FreiburgRempartstr.   Freiburg

For further information, please contact Herr Elmar Offenwanger on the phone number +49 761 or E-Mail