Junior Researcher in Public Economics and International Taxation

The Swiss Economic Institute (KOF) is seeking a Junior Researcher (Scientific assistants) to support Dr. Enea Baselgia's SNSF-funded research project "Taxation in a Globalized Economy: Profit Shifting, Tax Competition, and the Political Economy of Tax Havens" (70%, one-year fixed-term contract, starting November 1, 2026 or by agreement).

You will be employed at the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich, which is the leading institute for applied research in economics in Switzerland. KOF has a strong collaborative environment that promotes exchange between research staff at different levels and in different functions and is committed to rigorous, applied research on policy-relevant topics with a connection to Switzerland.

In collaboration with leading scholars (incl., e.g., Florian Scheuer, Michael Siegenthaler, and Gabriel Zucman, among others), and leveraging exceptionally rich linked Swiss administrative data, the projects aim to generate new causal evidence and insights on multinational profit shifting, corporate tax competition, wealth taxation, and the political economy of tax havens, all questions of central importance to academics and policymakers alike at a time when international coordination on taxation is at a crossroads.

Your primary tasks will be to support the preparation and analysis of micro-level data underlying the project's research questions. This includes:

Preparing and managing linked micro-level datasets (cleaning, merging, quality checks)

Conducting descriptive analyses of administrative and survey data

Running guided empirical analyses using reduced-form causal inference methods

Preparing presentation slides and other research materials

Occasionally assisting in the organization of an academic workshop

We are looking for an outstanding candidate who is curious, proactive, and enthusiastic about producing rigorous scientific evidence to improve tax policy.

Your profile

Completed master's degree in economics, political science, or other quantitative social science

Genuine interest in policy-relevant questions in taxation and public economics

Reliable, structured and precise working style

Very good planning and coordination skills

Comfortable formulating questions and proactively seeking guidance as needed

Curious and self-motivated, with a strong sense of ownership over their work

Solid foundations in causal inference methods (e.g., difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, and randomized experiments)

Proficiency in the statistical software package Stata and/or R

Prior experience with large-scale data cleaning and management (is not required but a plus)

Fluency in English (German is not required but a plus)

Excellent writing skills in English (German is not required but a plus)

Strong interest in applied scientific research (an interest in pursuing a PhD at a later stage is a plus but not necessary)

Hands-on experience contributing to high-quality academic research and developing your own academic skills

Highly collaborative work environment: You will be working closely with researchers at different levels and be integrated in a team with other junior and PhD researchers

Professional supervision by experienced researchers, supporting you in your career development as an applied economist

Access to a flexible working environment: Opportunities for flexible working hours and a supportive learning environment

You can look forward to numerous benefits, a wide range of sports activities organised by the ASVZ

We look forward to receiving your online application including

A cover letter

CV

Study transcripts

Master Deegre

At least one writing sample in English (e.g., Bachelor's or Master's thesis)

Applications must be submitted through our online application portal by 30 September 2026 at the latest.

Further information about the KOF Swiss Economic Institute can be found on our website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to KOF HR Services, hr@kof.ethz.ch (no applications).

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.