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)
• Good command of German and English for this position
• Excellent writing skills in English and German
• 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
• Salary and pension benefits according to ETH regulation

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, [email protected] (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.