PhD Candidate TeacherLab at the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA)

Welcome to Maastricht University!
The world is changing rapidly—and so are we. At Maastricht University, your work makes a difference. Whether you conduct research, collaborate with schools, or contribute to educational innovation, you help create knowledge that improves society. In our international academic community, you work on solutions that matter—for today's learners and tomorrow's education system.

PhD Candidate TeacherLab at the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA)

At the TeacherLab, we collaborate with schools to develop promising approaches to attract and retain teachers. You will contribute to improving the quality of Dutch education by researching the causes of and solutions to teacher shortages. As a PhD candidate, you will co-design and conduct multiple studies on effective approaches to reduce teacher shortages. This project focuses particularly on retaining qualified teachers, for example after retirement or by improving working conditions and employment terms. 

We offer a challenging and flexible position within an enthusiastic, ambitious, and driven team. You will be part of a dynamic, interdisciplinary team within a start-up environment (Education Lab NL), collaborating with colleagues from Maastricht University and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Your workdays will be highly varied: you will conduct applied experimental research in schools, perform data analyses with colleagues, and write scientific articles which ultimately form your PhD thesis.

What you do
You will participate in various research projects, all evaluations of promising interventions to retain qualified teachers. You co-create these interventions with schools, carry out evaluation research, and participate in impact studies. Your research will involve mostly quantitative methods, with at least one sub-study taking the form of a field experiment.

Specific activities are:

• Co-creation of interventions with schools.
• Development of evaluations, by surveys, focus groups and using administrative data.
• Write and present academic articles based on your research.
• Teaching activities at the Macro, International and Labour Economics department of SBE Maastricht University

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you. 

What you bring 
Are you self-motivated, curious, and interested in research? Do you have a strong academic track record in economics, social sciences, or data science (e.g., excellent grades and/or involvement in academic activities), and the skills needed to become an outstanding researcher? Then a PhD position at ROA may be the right challenge for you.

• You hold an MSc degree in economics, social sciences, or data science, or expect to graduate soon;
• You have a strong academic background and have the ambition to publish in leading academic journals;
• You have excellent quantitative and analytical skills, as well as strong verbal and written communication skills;
• You have an affinity with empirical analysis of large datasets and/or natural or field experiments, as well as the statistical software for these analyses (e.g., Stata, R).
• Proficiency in Dutch is preferred, given the nature of collaboration with Dutch schools and stakeholders.
  
  

What we offer
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer: 

• A 18-month contract (1.0 FTE)  with the prospect of a 2.5 year extension.
• A gross monthly salary between €3.059,- and €3.881,- (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus. 
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day).
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home in discussion with your manager. 
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas. 
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with. 
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities. 
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe. 

About the School of Business and Economics (SBE)
SBE is an international faculty for economics, business, and policy. We combine academic depth with societal engagement. Our education is small-scale and interactive. Our research focuses on themes such as sustainability, inclusion, and digital transformation. Together, we work on impactful solutions for the world of tomorrow.

Interested?
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Inge de Wolf (I.deWolf@maastrichtuniversity.nl) or Bart Golsteyn (B.Golsteyn@maastrichtuniversity.nl).

The end date of the publication is June 14th 2026.

• Upload a CV and motivation letter.
• The interviews will take place in the third and fourth week of June

Apply now via the button below. We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.


The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates.


At Maastricht University, we prefer to be contacted by potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.