Doctoral Researcher in Economic & Financial History: Panama

About us

The University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character.

The Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH) at the University of Luxembourg is an interdisciplinary research centre committed to high-quality research and public dissemination in the field of contemporary history with a particular focus on digital methods and tools.
The C²DH's ambition is to venture off the beaten track and find new ways of doing, teaching and presenting contemporary history of Luxembourg and the history of Europe in the 20th and 21st centuries. It serves as a catalyst for innovative and creative scholarship and new forms of public dissemination.

Your role

The doctoral researcher will work under the supervision of Professor Benoît Majerus within the ERC-funded project "Digital archaeology of shell companies: infrastructures of global connections and local networks (DIGSHELL)".

The project seeks to develop a comprehensive history of global tax networks by examining the emergence of multi-jurisdictional spaces in which nation-states, multinational corporations, local financial intermediaries, and international organizations interact to build, maintain, and govern global financial infrastructures. Building on a previous research initiative focused exclusively on Luxembourg, DIGSHELL adopts a broader international perspective through three additional case studies: Panama, Singapore and the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

To facilitate the analysis of this extensive corpus, the project will explore advanced data analysis methods, visualization tools, and generative AI technologies, including Large Language Models (LLMs).

The doctoral researcher will initially conduct preliminary research and review existing source materials in Luxembourg. This work will subsequently be complemented by extended research stays abroad, involving archival research, fieldwork, and interviews in the respective target country (Panama, Singapore, and the BVI/United Kingdom).

Furthermore, the candidate will have the opportunity to participate in the creation of networking opportunities, such as conferences and other events, and will disseminate results through scientific publications in well-ranked journals and conferences.

For more information on DIGSHELL: https://www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/research-projects/digshell/
For further information on the position, please contact Prof. Benoît Majerus ().

Your profile

Qualification: The candidate should have completed a master's degree or equivalent in history, economics, political science, social science or a related field.

Experience: The ideal candidate should have proven interest in the following topics: digital history, financial history, offshore studies, fiscal studies, network research

Operational Language Requirements: Excellent command of English; good working knowledge of French is an asset. Excellent knowledge or full professional command of Spanish will be considered an advantage

Academic Eligibility (Thesis):

Applicants must demonstrate at least B2-level proficiency in the language of their thesis. For details and accepted certificates, please visit the Application for admission - Doctoral Candidates.

We offer

• A modern, dynamic university with a personal and inclusive atmosphere. Multilingual and international character. Staff coming from more than 90 countries. Member of The Guild of European Research Intensive Universities
• An exceptional research environment, supported by skilled staff and high-quality equipment. Strong links to professional sectors and the Luxembourg labour market. A unique urban campus with excellent infrastructure
• A partner for society and industry. Cooperation with European institutions, innovative companies, the Financial Centre and a wide range of non-academic partners including ministries, local governments, associations, and NGOs

How to apply

Applications should include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter presenting your motivation for this doctoral thesis topic, and explaining how your qualifications and aspirations align with its academic focus
• Transcript of all modules and results from university-level courses taken
• Name, contact information and current position of 1 referee who can, upon request, provide an assessment of the application. Please indicate the person's relationship to you
• A two-page project proposal (research question, sources, methodology)

Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception. Please apply ONLINE formally through the HR system. Applications by Email will not be considered.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. In line with our values, the University of Luxembourg promotes an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are dedicated to upholding equality and respect for our employees and students.

General information:

• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract 36 Month
• Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Hours per Week
• Location: Belval Campus
• Internal Title: Doctoral Researcher
• Job Reference: UOL08484

The yearly gross salary for every Doctoral researcher at the UL is EUR 44531 (full time).