General Information

Type of contract PhD Traineeship

Who can apply? EU nationals eligible for our traineeship programme

Grant The trainee grant is €2,120 per month plus an accommodation allowance (see further information section)

Working time Full time

Place of work Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Closing date 20.01.2025

Your team

You will participate in the summer 2025 Research Graduate Programme within the Directorate General Research. The programme is suitable for PhD students who have completed their coursework in the field of economics, finance, statistics, mathematics or a related discipline. The successful candidates will work in one of the Directorate General Research’s two divisions – the Monetary Policy Research Division or the Financial Research Division.

You will spend around three months conducting research on the project you outlined when applying for the programme. You will be expected to present your research proposal in a seminar at the beginning of the programme and your progress in a second seminar at the end of the programme.

The ECB is an inclusive employer and we strive to reflect the diversity of the population we serve. We encourage you to apply irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

Your role

As a research graduate trainee you will:

• carry out research on a topic of relevance for the ECB (as outlined in the research proposal you submitted when applying for the programme);
• present your research proposal and subsequent progress in seminars at the beginning and end of the programme respectively;
• engage and collaborate with economists from across the ECB;
• become familiar with the working environment in the Directorate General Research and, more generally, with the ECB and the policy challenges it faces.

The position offers you excellent opportunities to discuss and advance your current research projects and receive feedback from the ECB’s economists and visiting academics. You will be part of a multicultural team that strives for continuous innovation to make a positive impact on the lives of European citizens.

Qualifications, experience and skills

Essential:

• a master’s degree and at least two years of PhD studies in economics, finance, statistics, mathematics or a related field;
• a good knowledge of the MS Office package;
• an advanced (C1) command of English and an intermediate (B1) command of at least one other official language of the EU, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

You are curious and eager to learn, and want to further develop your ability to analyse complex information. You are keen to collaborate with others, pursue team goals and learn from other people’s diverse perspectives. You strive to know and anticipate stakeholder needs, and will signal any need for change and propose alternative solutions.

You are motivated to contribute to the ECB’s mission, to serve the citizens of the EU as a member of a public institution and to work with colleagues from all over Europe. You are keen to be part of our team and to use your skills and competencies to achieve the aims of this position.

Further information

This PhD traineeship will have a duration of three to four months and will take place in the summer of 2025.

Other details on the conditions applicable to traineeships at the ECB can be found on our website.

Application and selection process

The recruitment process for this position will include an online interview.

Further information on how to apply is available on our website.

Your application must include: (i) a proposal (two to three pages) for research to be undertaken during the programme, including a description of the proposal’s relevance for policy (it could be a new project or a continuation of your existing work); and (ii) a complete list of PhD-level courses you have taken (the list should be issued by the relevant academic institution). The documents must be uploaded in the “Further information” section of the online application before the closing date for applications.

More information about the programme and a list of past participants can be found on ourwebsite.

If you are not selected for this position but are still considered suitable, you will be placed on a reserve list for 12 months from the closing date for applications, from which you might be considered for other traineeship positions within the ECB.