PhD position in economics, business, and management

At the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Aalborg University Business School, one position as PhD student within economics, business, and management with a particular focus on regional differences in productivity among firms and at the aggregate level. The stipend is open for appointment from November 1, 2026 or soon hereafter. The duration of the position is three years.

Your work tasks
You will be part of a team of researchers responsible for the annual productivity studies by Aalborg University Business School. These studies provide data driven insights into regional productivity evolution in Denmark, and potential challenges and opportunities. You will contribute to these analyses but also have freedom to pursue original ideas, which can then shape the thematic chapters of the reports. Such ideas can diverge from a narrow focus on productivity and deal with related topics in Denmark such as competitiveness, internationalization, regional structural change, and innovation.

You will be able to contribute empirical research on Denmark at the firm level, and/or at the aggregate level. Your research can use diverse methodologies depending on your strengths and interests. You will primarily be using registry data from Statistics Denmark.

Over the three years of employment, you will be required to deliver 600 hours of teaching and attend 30 ECTS of PhD level training.

Your competencies
Experience with firm level econometric analyses or with processing of large firm level datasets will be an advantage, but it is more important that you have experience with software tools such as Stata, SAS, R, or Python. You will also be able to shape your own research. This includes primary data collection through surveys, or qualitative or quantitative interviews.

Working as a PhD student requires the ability to work independently and systematically, as well as skills for planning and administration of tasks and projects. You may not have such experience already but you should be prepared to learn fast.

The ability to write and present in Danish will be very valuable but it is not an absolute requirement. We welcome international applicants. While a relatively traditional background in economics can be useful, alternative approaches combining experience from other research fields can lead to interesting novel insight and will also be appreciated.

Qualification requirements
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Humanities in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1124 of September 19, 2025 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time. As part of the PhD study, you are among other things required to complete PhD courses corresponding to 30 ECTS, gain experience with teaching or other forms of knowledge dissemination and complete an external research stay outside of Aalborg University, preferably 3-6 months at a foreign research institution.

Please visit the website of the doctoral school  for further information on admission requirements.

Who we are
Aalborg University Business School (AAUBS) is a regionally anchored and internationally oriented business school conducting research and teaching activities within the broad disciplinary fields of business administration and economics. The PhD student will be affiliated to the IKE research group. The focus of the research group is on Innovation, Knowledge and Economic dynamics at different levels of aggregation: the firm level, the industry level, the macro level, and different geographic levels of aggregation. The PhD student is expected to contribute actively to the research and teaching activities of the IKE research group. In addition to contributions to the productivity analyses, including writing scientific articles, the PhD student is expected to take part in research group seminars and other activities.

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

• Application, stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (bachelor's and master's degree diploma, including grades) 
• Project description 
• Applicants WHO are planning to complete a doctoral thesis in English and who do not have English as a first language or WHO have not completed an English language-based Master's programme (or an equivalent educational achievement in English) shall provide documentation that they have passed one of the following official tests with the respective minimum score: IELTS (band score): 7, TOEFL (paper-based): 600, TOEFL (internet-based): 100. The language test must be no more than five years old at the time of the application. 
• Other relevant documents

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website. 

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position.

Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact person at the bottom of the jobpost. Applicants can expect interviews in September. 

Further information
Read more about our recruitment process here.

The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline, the head of the department, with the assistance of the hiring committee, will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.

Read more about The Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Humanities

Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (in Danish).

Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement) (in Danish) 

Aalborg University - Knowledge for the world
Aalborg University is an international workplace with more than 3,700 employees. We offer real-world-oriented education and create world-class research results through collaboration between researchers, students, and public and private companies. This is how we achieve insights, new solutions to societal problems, and knowledge that changes the world. Our main campus is in Aalborg, but we also have campuses in Esbjerg and Copenhagen.

Contacts

• Jacob Rubæk Holm: +4599408247, jrh@business.aau.dk
• AAU PhD: +4599407408, vkns@adm.aau.dk