3 Research Assistants (PhD Positions)

Europa-Universität Viadrina is an internationally and interdisciplinarily oriented university located in the twin city of Frankfurt (Oder)-Słubice, on the German and Polish banks of the River Oder, where it educates around 4,000 students from all over the world. The university lives the European idea in its everyday practice and promotes European integration through teaching and research. With around 300 academic and 300 nonacademic staff, it forms a community for which successful communication and cooperation with Eastern Europe are a particular concern.

The Entrepreneurship Research Lab (ERLab) at the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics invites applications for

3 Research Assistants (PhD Positions)

in the field of Entrepreneurship Research on Ecosystems, with a focus on Creativity, Communication, and Community

Job ID: 1216-26-01 Working time: 30h/week Salary: as per tariff (group 13 TV-L, 75 %) Duration: 4 years, fixed term Starting Date: 01.01.2027

The "Entrepreneurship Research Lab: Research on Creativity, Communication, and Community (ERLab)" project at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) conducts research on entrepreneurial ecosystems in a research-practice partnership with Campus Founders gGmbH in Heilbronn.

The primary place of work is the university campus in Frankfurt (Oder). Extended research stays in Heilbronn and at other entrepreneurial ecosystems in Europe are an integral part of the position; flexible working arrangements are possible within the university’s regulations.

Your responsibilities include:

• conducting research on regional entrepreneurial ecosystems, focusing on one of the ERLab’s three research areas: creativity, communication, or community
• developing and completing an empirical PhD dissertation project in the respective research area
• contributing to the ERLab’s research activities and publications in scientific journals
• presenting research findings at international meetings and conferences
• organizing knowledge transfer events in Heilbronn
• contributing to a knowledge database on entrepreneurship research
• participating in other scientific activities of the ERLab

The ideal candidate is expected:

• to have an MSc degree (or equivalent) in business, management, or related areas
• to have a pronounced interest in research on entrepreneurship and ecosystems with a focus on one of the scholarly fields of creativity, communication, or community
• to have substantial and applied knowledge of qualitative research methods, such as case studies, that are typically used in entrepreneurship, management, and organization research
• to be familiar with entrepreneurial ecosystems, especially in Germany and Eastern Europe
• to have strong communication skills and the ability to learn quickly
• to be fluent in English (written and spoken, at least C1 CEFR) and to have at least B1-level proficiency in German

We offer:

• attractive remuneration with financial stability, regular pay adjustments, and an annual special payment
• occupational benefits (e.g. retirement provision through VBL, capital-forming benefits, job ticket)
• collectively agreed annual leave plus non-working days on 24 and 31 December
• flexible working arrangements and family-friendly working conditions
• and much more

Your application

We look forward to receiving your application no later than 17.11.2026. Interested applicants should send their application as one PDF file (preferably as one document) with the Job ID mentioned above to: Apply Now. Please indicate in your application which of the three research areas (creativity, communication, or community) you would like to focus on. For further information about the position, please contact Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jochen Koch (Apply Now).

Applications should include a letter of motivation, a curriculum vitae (CV), and degree certificates and transcripts.