"We are looking for a committed team member who works with passion and responsibility. In our company, we place a high value on collaboration, innovation and continuous development." 

"I am looking forward to welcome you as a new team member at ERP-HSG"

Project Overview:

We use the "ignorance equivalent" approach to Rational Inattention [Müller-Itten et al, 2024] that equates access to learning with a larger menu of fictitious payoffs. Building on these insights, the project aims to shed light on the interplay between preference traits and learning behavior. The main objectives are:

• Develop numeric algorithms that efficiently determine the optimal rational inattentive choice for a range of (uniformly posterior separable) learning cost functions beyond Shannon entropy.
• Use these algorithms to simulate the behavioral impact of different cost functions in concrete settings, and compare it with documented patterns of behavior.
• Design and deploy an experimental protocol that allows us to measure perceived learning costs.
• Implement the protocol in several choice experiments (both online and in the lab) to identify key features that drive the cost of learning.
• Experimentally compare perceived versus experienced learning costs to uncover potential biases.
• Identify how risk attitudes shape the agent’s incentives to learn.

What to expect as a postdoctoral researcher on this project:

• You will conduct innovative and high-quality research on Rational Inattention and costly learning.
• You will have a central role in all aspects of the research process, from developing theory, coding and/or experiments to the drafting and publishing of academic papers.
• You will have time dedicated to advancing your own research agenda.
• You will supervise and mentor graduate students and research assistants and, to a limited extent, support teaching initiatives.
• You will take a leadership role in organizing workshops, preparing grant proposals, and collaborating on publications.
• You are encouraged to contribute to the overall activities of the Department and attend seminars.
• The position is based in the beautiful city of St.Gallen, Switzerland, and requires regular presence at the department.

• A Ph.D. (completed or near completion) in Economics, with a strong background in behavioral economics, numerical methods and/or economic theory.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm and ambition for conducting high-quality research.
• Hands-on experience with designing and running experiments (lab, online, or field), including coding skills in Qualtrics, JavaScript, oTree, or similar platforms.
• Ability to work independently, think creatively and contribute collaboratively in a dynamic team environment.
• Effective written and verbal English-language communication and time management skills.
• Evidence of the capacity to prepare excellent publications.

Compensation:

Compensation is based on the cantonal salary scales available at https://
www.gesetzessammlung.sg.ch/frontend/annex_document_dictionaries/3246
(Klasse F8).

How to apply:

Applications should include a cover letter, two letters of reference, a curriculum vitae, and a published or unpublished research paper. In the cover letter, briefly describe your research interests, your motivation for joining the  project, and how your background fits the position. Review of applications will start immediately and continue until the position is filled. For further information about this position, please contact Prof. Michèle Müller-Itten (michele.muelleritten@unisg.ch).