Project staff member (post-doc)

Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien; Wien; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 48,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Six weeks vacation

Flexible working hours

Training opportunities

Meal allowance

Employee discounts

Inclusive environment

Vienna campus

Public transport access

Job summary

The Institute for Ecological Economics at Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien invites applications for a part-time post-doctoral researcher position in climate and nature finance. The appointment is 30 hours per week starting December 2026 for 14 months, with potential extension based on performance.

Vienna-based, you will join an international research team and work on policy-relevant models. Responsibilities include developing quantitative tools, collaborating with leading institutions, and

Qualifications

• PhD in Economics, Finance, Statistics, Physics, or related field.
• Experience with macro-financial risk modeling (SF-Consistent/ABM/network).
• Fluency in English; willingness to travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Develop quantitative tools and models for macro-financial risk assessment.
• Collaborate with leading institutions and the Task Force on Climate Finance.
• Inform design of financial instruments and policy for EMDEs.
• Publish high-quality research in peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to project dissemination via conferences and seminars.

Skills

PhD in Economics

Macro-financial risk modeling

Climate and nature finance

Matlab

Python

English fluency

Willingness to travel

Education

PhD in Economics or related field

Tools

Matlab

Python

Job description

You want to understand how things are connected and make a fundamental impact? We offer an environment where you can realize your full potential. At one of Europe's largest and most modern business and economics universities. On a campus where quality of work is also quality of life.

We are looking for support at the Institute for Ecological Economics

Part-time, 30 hours/week | Starting December 01, 2026, and ending after 14 months (potential extension based on performance)

Be part of an international research team contributing to shape the future of climate and nature finance within the international financial architecture. Work with top scholars to develop models for policy and financial impact.

We are looking for a post-doctoral researcher in climate and nature finance, with a focus and interest on their international development aspects. The position is based at the Institute for Ecological Economics, within the Vienna University of Economics and Business, under the supervision of Irene Monasterolo.

You will work with the experts of the Task Force on Climate, Development and the International Financial Architecture led by Boston University in collaboration with the G24 and V20 on reshaping international climate finance for development, in dialogue with multinational development banks and financial institutions.

Within the project, you will contribute to inform how different financial arrangements and instruments could contribute to build resilience to climate and nature risks, in an inclusive and financial stability-aware way. You will explore the conditions for climate development finance to act a global shock absorber in the context of climate and nature risks. In particular, you will provide new conceptual and quantitative insights on debt, financial instruments and measures (e.g. Resilience and Sustainability Facility, Recovery and Resilience Facility, Capital Flow Management Measures, Regional Financing Arrangements, equity), including a global insurance scheme, for emerging markets and low-income economies (EMDEs).

This is a crucial topic for the future of international development: growing socio-economic losses from climate change and ecosystem depletion, and geopolitical instability, contribute to decrease countries' fiscal space and to increase the cost of investing in resilience. In this context, EMDEs face a future of sluggish development, insufficient resilience and sustainability, and new debt crises, with cascading effects on the economy of Global North countries.

You will work in close contact with a team of experts in climate finance for development with long experience in development finance institutions. You will have the opportunity to attend international research and policy workshops, conferences, and have policy impact, shaping the discussion about the international climate finance agenda.

What to expect

• Developing quantitative tools (in particular Stock-Flow Consistent behavioral model and stress test models) for macro-financial risk assessment of climate and nature risks, and financial instruments.
• Collaborating with top scholars from leading institutions and think tanks (e.g., Boston University, Utrecht University, University of Venice, Bruegel) and engaging with the Task Force team.
• Driving impact by informing the design of financial instruments and financial policy in EMDEs.
• Contributing to academic output through publishing high-quality research in peer reviewed high ranked journals.
• Support the project dissemination activities by participating in relevant conferences, workshops, and seminars.

What you have to offer

We are looking for a motivated post-doctoral researcher with the following qualifications:

• PhD in Economics, Finance, Statistics, Physics, or a related field.
• Proven experience with macro-financial and financial risk modeling, using either Stock-Flow Consistent models, or Agent-Based models, or network models.
• Expertise and interest with climate and nature finance, and development finance.
• Strong coding skills in Matlab and Python.
• Fluency in English both spoken and written (other languages are a plus) and willingness to travel international for conferences and meetings.
• Ability to deliver quality and relevant work, meet deadlines, manage tasks independently, work in team.
• Ability to write and present research for academic and policy audiences independently.
• Location: Vienna, one of the cities with the highest quality of life in Europe, with access to facilities and a dynamic international research environment.

Remuneration: in accordance with the applicable collective labour agreement, including social security coverage and paid annual leave.

A first round of online interviews will take place at the beginning of November. Expected starting date of the position is December 2026.

For more information about this position, please contact Prof. Dr. Irene Monasterolo ([e-mail]).

What we offer you

• Six weeks of vacation/Extra vacation time
• Flexible working hours
• Training opportunities
• A wide range of benefits, from an in-house medical officer to athletic activities and a meal allowance to a variety of employee discounts
• Meaningful work in an open-minded, inclusive, and family-friendly environment
• A modern campus with spectacular architecture in the heart of Vienna
• Inspiring campus life with over 2,400 employees in research, teaching, and administration and approximately 21,500 students
• Excellent accessibility by public transportation

Curious? Visit our website and find out more at www.wu.ac.at/benefits.

The minimum monthly gross salary amounts to €3,760.73 (14 times per year). This salary may be adjusted based on equivalent prior work experience. In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive social benefits.

Do you want to join the WU team? Then please submit your application by October 28, 2026 (ID 2922). We are looking forward to hearing from you!

WU is committed to diversity and inclusion and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from women. Not sure if your profile fully matches our requirements? Apply anyway! In case of equal qualification, female candidates will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities will be supported throughout each stage of the recruitment process. Candidates' qualifications will be assessed in the context of their academic age.