PhD research position on the 'Economics of Education'

21 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

KU Leuven

Research Field

Economics » Labour economics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Belgium

Application Deadline

18 Mar 2024 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

38 hours/week

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

H2020 / ERC

Reference Number

BAP-2024-106

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101129146

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

High-quality education is a key driver of economic growth and social progress. Despite large investments in education over the past few decades, the quality of education in some EU countries has stagnated or even deteriorated. Marginalized populations are particularly vulnerable to the negative consequences arising from inadequate educational policies. Understanding the efficiency and (cost-)effectiveness of investment in quality education is crucial for allocating resources to where they could have the largest economic and social impacts. 
Thanks to a four years PhD scholarship, you will focus on providing evidence-based policy recommendations to improve the quality of education. The recommendations will be grounded in sound academic research, stemming from randomized controlled trials that you run within the LEER-team at Flemish schools. In addition, you will be working on quasi-experimental techniques such as difference-in-differences and regression discontinuity designs.  In particular, you will focus on identifying the cost-effectiveness of targeted interventions to stimulate education outcomes and equity. For example, in a series of experiments, you analyse the impact of summer schools, tutoring and other remedial teaching interventions. Second, you analyse how computer assisted learning can mitigate the impact of teacher shortages. To do so, you exploit the growing teacher shortages that results in an increasing number of students being sent home or who have to study the course independently. Schools will be randomly assigned to a control group and one of the three treatment arms (i.e., regular course with teacher; technology aided course with teacher; technology aided course without teacher; technology aided course without teacher but with additional meta-cognitive support for students).
The PhD research is part of a wider Horizon Europe project that is coordinated by Prof. Kristof De Witte.  

Requirements

Research Field

Economics

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Good

Languages

DUTCH

Level

Basic

Additional Information
Benefits

• Our internationally renowned doctoral program in economics is an individualized PhD training that consists of four years of full-time study. It eventually leads to a PhD degree and prepares the student for an academic career or a career as a researcher in a policy institution.
• The candidate is expected to prepare a PhD at the LEER research group under the supervision of Professor Kristof De Witte. You will join a dynamic and internationally oriented research environment (www.feb.kuleuven.be/LEER ) that focusses on education economics. 
• We offer a competitive full-time PhD scholarship. The position is for 4 years, conditional upon a positive evaluation after 1 year.
• We offer additional benefits in terms of health insurance, reduced public transport prices, free bicycle use, access to university sports facilities, … 
• KU Leuven offers opportunities to follow academic, skills and career training courses. 
• Working in an attractive international environment. 
• You are expected to participate in seminars and will occasionally be involved in teaching activities including supervision of exams.

To apply for the position, please prepare the following documents:•    A curriculum vitae•    An overview of your study results (certified copies of diplomas and transcripts).•    A letter of motivation (max. 500 words): all applicants must provide a letter of motivation.

• Start date – October 1, 2024, but there is some flexibility to start at a different moment in time.  
• Once the PhD study is completed, you receive a PhD in Economics. 

Eligibility criteria

The Research Center ‘Leuven Economics of Education Research’ (KU Leuven) is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated junior scholar to conduct a PhD in economics. The candidate should have the following qualifications: 

• Important eligibility condition to start the PhD in economics at KU Leuven: You hold a one or two year advanced research master in economics (it needs to be comparable to the ‘Master of Science in Advanced Studies in Economics’ degree from KU Leuven, with courses as advanced econometrics). 
• Having at least ‘cum laude’ (honors) during your initial master years (preferably also during your advanced research master). 
• You have strong skills in statistical, econometric and quantitative data analysis and experience with statistical packages; and are keen on developing these skills further.
• Enthusiastic and motivated to do research. 
• You are proficient in English; your knowledge of Dutch language might be an advantage.
• You have very good scientific writing skills.
• You are a team player that is able to work independently. 
• Successful candidates are required to enter the PhD program in economics of the Faculty of Economics and Business of KU Leuven (see http://feb.kuleuven.be/phd-economics ).  

Selection process

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Kristof De Witte, tel.: +32 16 32 66 56, mail: [email protected] .
You can apply for this job no later than 18/03/2024 via the online application tool

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

KU Leuven

Country

Belgium

State/Province

Vlaams Brabant

City

Leuven

Postal Code

3000

Street

Leuven

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://easyapply.jobs/r/kjGyvAk21oOXFkC3PVt

Contact

State/Province

Leuven

City

Vlaams Brabant

Street

Leuven

Postal Code

3000

STATUS: EXPIRED