Call for Applications 2026: Nuffield Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Economics at Oxford (Deadline: 30 September, 2025)

About the Fellowship

The Department of Economics, in partnership with Nuffield College, is offering full-time Postdoctoral Research Fellowships for candidates who have recently completed, or are close to completing, a doctorate in a relevant field. Fellowships are full-time and tenable for a fixed term of three years from September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. Shorter appointments will be considered in exceptional circumstances.

The fellowships offer early career researchers the opportunity to develop their research portfolio within one of the world’s leading Economics departments and so strengthen their future position in the academic job market. These positions are designed for suitably qualified candidates with a clear preference for not going on the junior academic job market in 2025/26. We welcome applications from candidates conducting research in any field of Economics.

The postholders will perform the following duties to the satisfaction of the Head of Department:

• to engage in research of a quality commensurate with publication in leading international economics journals;
• to develop and manage their own independent research agenda;
• to present their research at international conferences and research workshops;
• to play a full role in the intellectual life of the Department including working collaboratively with academic colleagues in areas of shared research interest, and taking part in department seminars and workshops;
• to provide up to 60 units of graduate or undergraduate teaching per annum as requested by the Head of Department. The Department operates a points system to manage workloads. For example, 60 units is equivalent to 20 contact hours of graduate lecturing, or 15 contact hours of graduate class-teaching.
• to co-operate in the administration of teaching and research;
• to examine as required by the appropriate committee.

The postholders will be expected to undertake further duties for Nuffield College including:

• to participate in the intellectual life of the College by attending, and where appropriate by organising, seminars, workshops, conferences, and other academic events.
• to act as a mentor for graduate students, where appropriate, and to represent the College’s body of postdoctoral research fellows on one of the College’s committees, and to take on College officerships, where appropriate.

Candidates will have recently completed, or be close to completing, a PhD in a relevant subject. They will have publications in peer-reviewed journals commensurate with their career level. They will have the ability to present research findings effectively, to innovate and work effectively with colleagues and to play a part in developing the Department’s and the College’s research programme, as well as being able to teach high-achieving graduate students. Additionally, they will possess excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills and be willing to contribute more generally to the intellectual life of the Department and the College.

As part of your application, you will be required to provide details of three referees, who will then be able to upload letters of recommendation. Please alert your referees to prepare to submit their references before the closing date (30th September 2025) to avoid delaying the shortlisting process.

Recruitment Timeline

• Deadline for applications: 30 September 2025.
• Shortlisting: Wednesday, 1 October – Friday, 3 October: applications will be reviewed, and shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Virtual campus visits: Friday, 10 October – Tuesday, 14 October: shortlisted candidates will be invited to give an online research presentation, individual meetings with faculty members, and online interviews with the selection committee.
• Offer decisions: Offer decisions will be communicated between Wednesday, 15 October and Friday, 17 October.
• Response deadline: Candidates will be asked to confirm their decision within three weeks of receiving an offer.
• On-site visits: Candidates who receive an offer will be invited to visit Oxford in person in late October.