The University of Excellence in Bonn is an international research university that offers a wide range of degree programs. The University of Bonn, with some 31,500 students and more than 6,000 employees on the foundation of a 200-year tradition, is one of the leading universities in Germany and enjoys an excellent international reputation.
Starting on November 15th, 2025, the working group “Global Economic Modeling of Land Use, Agriculture, and Food” in the Institute for Food and Resource Economics is seeking a
Postdoctoral Researcher (100%) (m/f/d)
to perform research within the DFG-funded project “Firms' international trade activities and market power in the food processing sector”. The position comes with a 3-year contract in accordance with § 2 (1) WissZeitVG. The successful candidate will develop and employ theory-based, empirical approaches and econometric techniques to analyze the relationship between firms' international trade activities and their market power in output and input markets, while uncovering the mechanisms driving these relationships.
Your responsibilities
- Theoretically motivated empirical analyses of the relationship between firms' export activities and their market power
- Collaboration with international project partners
- Work with other researchers in the institute on methods and topics of joint interest
- Publishing scientific results in reputable international journals
- Contributing to grant writing for follow-up research to broaden (and deepen) your own scientific expertise
Your profile
- A doctoral degree in International Trade, Agricultural Economics, or a related field
- An internationally relevant publication record corresponding to the state of career
- Interest in the analysis of firm-level data
- Strong methodological competence in econometrics and ideally some experience with new data science/machine learning techniques
- Excellent command of written and spoken English
- You are flexible, team-oriented, and interested in continuing your professional development
We offer
- Integration in an outstanding research environment within and beyond the University of Bonn
- Opportunity to conduct research qualifying for future academic positions and to receive the support necessary to do this successfully
- Mentoring by experienced researchers
- Institutional support for applicants with families
- salary according to pay grade E 13 TV-L.
The University of Bonn is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. It is certified as a family-friendly university and aims to increase the proportion of women employed in areas where women are underrepresented and to promote their careers. To that end, it urges women with relevant qualifications to apply. Applications will be handled in accordance with the Landesgleichstellungsgesetz (State Equality Act). Applications from suitable candidates with a certified disability or equivalent status are particularly welcome.
A complete application includes (1) A letter of motivation including your specific research interest (max. 2 pages); (2) a curriculum vitae including a list of publications; (3) a copy of your doctoral diploma; (4) the name and contact of two academic references (position, professional address and e-mail).
If you are interested in this position, please send your complete application documents by September 11, 2025 quoting reference 2025/125 to agpo@ilr.uni-bonn.de . Before sending your application, please combine and convert all of your documents into one PDF file. For further information, please contact Thomas Heckelei ( thomas.heckelei@ilr.uni-bonn.de ) or Yaghoob Jafari ( yaghoob.jafari@ilr.uni-bonn.de ).