Research Project

The purchase of Research and Development services and of innovative goods not yet available on the market has become in recent years a central policy instrument in Europe and worldwide to foster innovation and increase competitiveness. Despite the policy relevance, research on public procurement for innovation remains scarce. Combining theoretical, empirical, and experimental techniques, our project aims to fill this gap. Should you require any further information, please contact the principal investigator:

For position A: Prof. Paola Valbonesi (paola.valbonesi@unipd.it)

For position B: Prof. Giancarlo Spagnolo (spagnologianca@gmail.com)

The ideal candidate will:

- have a PhD in economics or will be in the final stages of obtaining one;

- be an independent researcher with a promising research agenda in applied microeconomics;

- have excellent English writing skills;

- have a strong background in microeconomics/industrial economics, theoretical, quantitative (empirical/experimental), or both;

Responsibilities and Opportunities

The postdoc’s primary responsibility is to conduct research in public procurement and innovation and related themes. He/she will be expected to make contributions to the project’s overall research agenda by developing and solving theoretical models and/or performing quantitative analysis. Another aim of the position is to help the candidate develop and improve his/her independent research profile and should serve as a stepping stone to a future position as Assistant Professor (or equivalent) at an international research institution.

Terms of Employment

The gross salary is 25.000 euros per year for position A; and 24-32.000 euros for position B, depending on duration and applicant’s seniority. For both positions A and B, the salary is exempt from taxation but subject to pension contributions. The position has very limited teaching or administrative duties. Knowledge of Italian is not required for the position.

An Equal Opportunity Workplace

Both the University of Padova and the University of Tor Vergata are committed to the pursuit of academic excellence, to equality of opportunity, and to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity, etc.

The Environment

Position A - The dSEA is part of the University of Padova, the second oldest university in Italy. It is consistently ranked as one of the top five economics departments in Italy and, according to the QS World University Rankings 2020, it is ranked among the top 100-150 departments in terms of research productivity worldwide, with a consistent upward trajectory in recent years. The department is currently in the process of obtaining accreditation by EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) that its activities meet the highest international standards. For further details: https://www.economia.unipd.it/en/.

Position B – The DEF is part of the School of Economics at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. According to some of the most important national (VQR) and international (RePEc, QS) rankings, it is amongst the leading departments in the fields of Economics, Finance, and Statistics. The department has been recently financed by the Italian Ministry of University and Research under the program “Departments of Excellence” for 2018-2022. For further details: https://economia.uniroma2.it/en/def.

How to Apply

To be considered for these positions (Position A and Position B), candidates must send an email to paola.valbonesi@unipd.it and submit the following: a cover letter, CV, job market paper, a research statement and two letters of recommendation. The deadline for submitting applications is  February 15th for both the positions A and B. Interviews will be conducted remotely by video. We will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue until the positions are filled.