The KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich is seeking a Junior Researcher (Scientific Assistant) 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". The position is 70%, on a one-year fixed-term contract, starting 1 November 2026 or by agreement. KOF is the leading institute for applied economics research in Switzerland, with a strong collaborative environment and a commitment to rigorous, policy-relevant research.
Project background: In collaboration with leading scholars (including Florian Scheuer, Michael Siegenthaler and Gabriel Zucman, among others) and leveraging exceptionally rich linked Swiss administrative data, the project aims to generate new causal evidence on multinational profit shifting, corporate tax competition, wealth taxation and the political economy of tax havens — questions of central importance to academics and policymakers as international coordination on taxation reaches a crossroads.
Job description: Your primary tasks will be to support the preparation and analysis of micro-level data underlying the project's research questions, including 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; and occasionally assisting in the organisation of an academic workshop.
Profile: Completed master's degree in economics, political science or another 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; curious and self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership; solid foundations in causal inference methods (e.g. difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, randomized experiments); proficiency in Stata and/or R; prior experience with large-scale data cleaning and management is a plus; good command of German and English with excellent writing skills in both; strong interest in applied scientific research (interest in pursuing a PhD later is a plus but not necessary).
What is offered: hands-on experience contributing to high-quality academic research, a highly collaborative environment working closely with junior and PhD researchers, professional supervision supporting career development as an applied economist, flexible working hours, numerous staff benefits and sports activities via ASVZ, and salary and pension benefits according to ETH regulations.
Closing date: 30 September 2026
HOW TO APPLY:
Applications must be submitted exclusively through the online application portal (https://emea2.softfactors.com/job-opening/rgum-wGCeDfRpbQMNLdfYbN#!/?lang=en) by 30 September 2026 at the latest. Include a cover letter, CV, study transcripts, master's degree, and at least one writing sample in English (e.g., Bachelor's or Master's thesis). Applications via email or postal services will not be considered. Questions regarding the position may be directed to KOF HR Services, hr@kof.ethz.ch (no applications).