University of Zurich Department of Business Administration Start of employment : Flexible between September and October 2026, temporary This position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge research at the intersection of accounting, finance, environmental economics, and spatial economics, working alongside Professor Thomas Rauter and his international co-author network at leading U.S. and European universities. The position is ideal for highly motivated…
candidates considering a top Ph.D. program in accounting, finance, economics, or related fields, who want to develop the technical and soft skills required for a successful academic career. The role provides intensive training in empirical research methods, large-scale data analysis, and programming, as well as direct exposure to the academic research process through close collaboration on ongoing projects, presentations, and papers. Past research associates under Professor Rauter have gone on to doctoral programs in accounting, economics, and finance at leading institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago, as well as top European universities. Others have pursued careers at international organizations and in industry. Research associates are encouraged to further strengthen their academic training by taking Ph.D.-level courses at the University of Zurich and by actively participating in internal and external workshops, seminars, and conferences. The position also provides opportunities to develop an independent research profile and to build a strong foundation for future academic work through close interaction with faculty and collaborators. Your responsibilities All tasks involve data analysis and require strong programming skills. The scientific assistant duties include a selection of the below: Assisting with data collection and preparation, especially spatial data and firms' financial statement data. Assisting in the estimation of Bayesian models to generate the predicted environmental impacts of millions of companies. Designing and implementing information experiments. Contributing to documenting data and code on GitHub. Contributing to drafting presentations, reports, and policy briefs. Providing teaching support, assisting in instruction, and updating teaching materials. Your profile We are looking for curious, motivated, and quantitatively strong candidates. The ideal applicant will have: A Master's degree in economics, finance, accounting, data science, computer science, statistics, or a related quantitative field with excellent grades. Programming experience in several of the following languages: Python (required), R, Stata, SQL, React, or Node.js. Experience with large-scale data analysis, applied statistics, or empirical research. Strong project management skills. Proven ability to handle several different tasks at one time, successfully complete tasks assigned, and meet deadlines. Strong communication skills in spoken and written English. (Preferred, but not required) Some exposure to accounting, such as a course during a Bachelor's or Master's degree. (Preferred, but not required) Prior experience as a research assistant. Join a dynamic international research team. Opportunities to acquire skills necessary to conduct independent research. Support during your Ph.D. application process or non-academic job search. A competitive salary in line with University of Zurich standards. Information on your application Application: Please submit your application (including cover letter, CV, transcript of grades, contact details for at least one academic reference). Applications will be reviewed as they are received and we welcome applications until the position is filled. Job start: This position has a flexible start date between September and October 2026. The appointment will be for one year (and may be extended into a 2nd year or a Ph.D. position upon mutual agreement What we offer Work-Life Balance Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing) Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH Learning and Development Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich Food Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution Healthcare Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ Free seasonal flu vaccinations Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower Discounts Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions Special conditions on hotel reservations Location Department of Business Administration Plattenstrasse 14, 8032 Zürich, Switzerland Further information Questions about the job Prof. Thomas Rauter