How does geopolitics shape European firms’ political activity? Do European firms disengage from China and relocate their production activities? Join a vibrant department to find out!

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ganer Stellentitel;
2 fully-funded PhD positions (100%) in Political Science in the SNF project of incoming Prof. Aydin B. Yildirim at University of St. Gallen (HSG) Institute of Political Science

The research project Political Economy of Firms’ Relocation Decisions in Europe (RESHORE) examines the political economy of European firms’ relocation decisions, with a particular focus on reshoring and friendshoring away from China. It investigates if and how geopolitical tensions, public backlash against globalization, and policy instruments shape firms’ behavior and motivate production relocation. The project adopts a firm-centric perspective and theoretically aims to contirbute to international relations, political economy and trade policy literatures. It is methodologically open to both quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Two fully funded PhD students will develop their own dissertation projects within the broader RESHORE research agenda. Further details on the project are available here.

Your tasks

• Organize, develop, and pursue a PhD dissertation related to RESHORE and the topic of firm-centric economic policy making in Europe – contributing to international relations, international political economy, and trade policy literatures
• Collect and analyze data regarding European firms’ responses to geopolitical developments, trade-relevant policies, and public pressure on firms’ behavior
• Contribute to theory building on firms’ role and behavior in global economic governance
• Delivering research output to RESHORE project and collaborative research activities within the project team
• Participate in academic conferences, workshops, and support research in the group
• Engage in limited teaching and academic service in line with HSG regulations
• Actively participate in the intellectual life of the research group and the Institute of Political Science
• Help organize events within the framework of the project and its outreach objectives

Your profile

We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in international relations, political economy, and trade policy.

You should have:

• An excellent Master’s degree (or be close to completion) in Political Science, Economics, International Relations, or a related field
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated research potential
• Excellent knowledge of quantitative or qualitative research methods
• A strong interest in firm-level analysis, political behavior of firms, and trade and industrial policy making in Europe.
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken); good working knowledge of German is an asset but not required
• A high level of independence, curiosity, and willingness to engage in collaborative research
• We explicitly encourage applications from candidates with either quantitative or qualitative methodological backgrounds, as the project aims to integrate different research traditions.

What we offer

• Two fully funded PhD positions (100%) for up to four years at the School of Economics and Political Science at University of St. Gallen and a competitive salary in line with SNSF and HSG guidelines (approximately CHF 50-55,000 per year, gross)
• Excellent research infrastructure and support
• Close supervision and mentoring in a vibrant research environment
• Funding for conference participation, research stays, and data collection
• Integration into the international research community at the University of St. Gallen
  Application materials
  Please submit the following documents as one single PDF file:
• Cover letter (max. 2 pages) outlining your motivation and fit with the requirements
• A CV
• Academic degrees and transcripts (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees)
• A writing sample (e.g. Master’s thesis or seminar paper)
• Contact details of two academic referees
  Selection process and timeline
• Application deadline: 24 March 2026
• Notification for interviews: by 27 March 2026
• Interviews: 8–9 April 2026
  Candidates invited to the interview stage will be asked to critically comment on the aforementioned RESHORE project and submit a short 2–3 page outline of a potential research manuscript that builds on the project’s themes.
  Informal queries can be directed to Aydin B. Yildirim (ayildirim@ethz.ch) who will be joining to St. Gallen Institute of Political Science as of