Predoctoral Research Professional

The research faculty in accounting, taxation, finance, and public economics at the University of Mannheim Business School is hiring one or more Predoctoral Research Professionals to support empirical research at the intersection of accounting, public economics, corporate finance, taxation, climate, and sustainability. The position is ideal for candidates considering a top PhD program in accounting, finance, economics, or related fields, and want to develop relevant technical and soft skills, such as building a strong foundation in empirical research methods and gain exposure to the academic environment. Predoctoral Research Professionals ("Predocs RPs") will work with senior and junior professors in the accounting, finance, and economics departments. The positions are part of a new predoc program within a research center jointly run by faculty from these departments and led by Professor Marcel Olbert (Link: Predocs will join an active community of several predocs, numerous PhD students, and faculty across disciplines, all broadly working on how regulation and economic policies shape firm behavior, capital markets, the economy, and society.

Application Procedure

If you are interested in applying, please send your CV, your latest academic records, and a cover letter (maximum one page) outlining your motivation and future goals to Christian Fischer via email:

About the Organization

The University of Mannheim is one of the leading universities in Germany with approximately 12,000 students in five schools. Particularly in business and economics as well as in the social sciences the university ranks among the top institutions both at national and international level. More than 2,600 employees profit from an exciting work environment with numerous benefits.

Additional Information

We offer a competitive German public sector contract (TV-L), with the specific pay scale depending on previous experience and degree. Both full-time and part-time arrangements are possible and can be discussed individually; part- time roles are particularly suitable for students in the later stages of their bachelor’s or master’s degrees who wish to combine the position with writing their thesis or other commitments. For successful candidates relocating to Mannheim, there is active onboarding support, including housing and visa services through the university’s welcome center for international candidates. State‑of‑the‑art IT equipment and modern office space in a collaborative environment will be provided. The newly established research center and the University of Mannheim also offer several employee benefits, including subsidized local transport tickets, sports memberships, and other services. Predocs are fully integrated into the vibrant accounting, finance, and economics research communities at Mannheim. This includes regular participation in brown bag seminars and research seminars featuring weekly speakers from top international academic institutions. Predocs can take PhD‑level courses at the GESS/CDSB, Mannheim’s renown structured graduate school for doctoral studies in business and economics, and receive support for attending internal and external workshops, conferences, and RA training events, as well as for building their own research portfolio. Overall, the program provides a strong platform for applying to PhD programs at top European, U.S., and other global institutions.

Career prospects

Previous pre‑doctoral research professionals who have worked with Professor Olbert and other involved faculty have gone on to successfully pursue PhD studies in accounting and economics at top‑tier institutions including Chicago Booth, London Business School, Cambridge, UNC Chapel Hill, and the University of Mannheim itself. The combination of rigorous empirical training, exposure to frontier research topics, and close faculty interaction makes the position an excellent springboard for an academic career, as well as for analytically demanding roles in policy institutions, central banks, consulting, and the corporate sector (including, but not only, data science and AI‑related positions).