Oxford Opens CSAE Postdoctoral Fellowship in Development Economics, Oxfoed 2026

Key Points

• The University of Oxford has opened applications for a CSAE Postdoctoral Research Fellow position at the Centre for the Study of African Economies
• The fellowship focuses on development economics research concerning education systems’ resilience to climate shocks and returns to education in developing countries
• Postdoctoral fellows will work with Professor Stefan Dercon, Dr Rocco Zizzamia, and Dr Noam Angrist on cutting-edge research
• Applications must be submitted online through the Econ Job Market (EJM) platform
• The closing date for applications is midnight UTC on Sunday, 7 June 2026
• Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held online during the week commencing 22 June 2026
• The role combines quantitative research methods including field experiments, quasi-experimental designs, and analysis of large-scale administrative, survey, and geospatial data
• The fellowship offers opportunities for high-impact collaborative research, policy engagement, publication in leading journals, and academic mentorship
• Ideal candidates demonstrate strong quantitative and econometric skills, experience in development economics research, and interest in education and climate resilience
• The position is especially relevant for scholars pursuing careers in academia, policy research, or international development institutions

Oxford (Oxford Daily)June 01, 2026 – The University of Oxford has officially announced the opening of applications for the CSAE Postdoctoral Research Fellow position at the internationally recognised Centre for the Study of African Economies (CSAE), offering early-career researchers a rare opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking development economics research focused on education systems, climate resilience, and human capital outcomes in developing countries.

As reported by Global South Opportunities on 11 May 2026, the fellowship will involve close collaboration with leading economists including Professor Stefan Dercon, Dr Rocco Zizzamia, and Dr Noam Angrist, with applications remaining open until 7 June 2026. The Centre for the Study of African Economies stands as one of the world’s leading research centres focused on economic development in Africa and the Global South, according to the official announcement.

Who Can Apply for the CSAE Postdoctoral Research Fellow Position?

Ideal applicants are expected to demonstrate strong quantitative and econometric skills, experience in development economics research, and a genuine interest in education and climate resilience topics. The position is particularly suitable for scholars interested in applying rigorous empirical methods to address global development challenges, as noted in the official job description.

According to the Department of Economics at Oxford, the post is suitable for a candidate who has been awarded or is nearing completion of a doctoral degree to conduct research in development economics. The fellow will be expected to take intellectual ownership of their contributions and develop an independent research profile within the team’s programme, as stated in the official posting.

What Research Will the Fellow Conduct at CSAE?

The fellow will contribute to an active portfolio of research on two main areas: the resilience of education systems to climatic shocks and the returns to education in developing countries. The research programme combines rigorous quantitative methods – including field experiments, quasi-experimental designs, and analysis of large-scale administrative, survey, and geospatial data – with close engagement with governments and international organisations, according to the official description.

As detailed by The Economic Misfit on 10 May 2026, the role focuses on research at the intersection of education, development, and climate resilience, including projects on the resilience of education systems to climatic shocks and the returns to education in developing countries. The fellow will contribute to field experiments, quasi-experimental research, and the analysis of large-scale administrative, survey, and geospatial datasets while also developing an independent research agenda.

Which Core Responsibilities Will the Fellow Undertake?

The successful candidate will work across ongoing projects while also helping to shape new research directions in climate-education resilience. Core responsibilities include leading study design and implementation, conducting quantitative data analysis, writing and publishing academic papers, developing innovative research questions, supporting funding applications and grant development, collaborating with doctoral students and research staff, and producing original policy-relevant research outputs.

As reported by Global South Opportunities, the fellow will work closely with the principal investigators, doctoral students, and other research staff, and will be expected to take intellectual ownership of their contributions. The role combines advanced quantitative research with practical policy engagement involving governments and international organisations.

Why Does This Fellowship Matter for Development Economics Research?

The Centre for the Study of African Economies at Oxford is one of the world’s leading research centres focused on economic development in Africa and the Global South. The fellowship provides exceptional opportunities for high-impact collaborative research, international policy engagement, publication in leading academic journals, academic networking and mentorship, and career development within development economics.

Researchers will work in an intellectually stimulating environment with access to Oxford’s world-class academic resources and global research networks, according to the official announcement. The position is especially relevant for scholars pursuing careers in academia, policy research, or international development institutions.

Who Are the Leading Economists the Fellow Will Work With?

Professor Stefan Dercon serves as Professor of Economic Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government and the Economics Department, and as a Fellow of Jesus College. He is also Director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies and has worked extensively as a policy advisor, providing strategic economic and development advice, including as the Chief Economist of the UK Department of International Development from 2011 to 2017.

His research interests concern what keeps some people and countries poor: the failures of markets, governments and politics, mainly in Africa, and how to change this. He has worked extensively in Ethiopia and Tanzania, as well as in India, Peru, Vietnam, Kenya and other countries.

Dr Rocco Zizzamia is a post-doctoral researcher at the CSAE in the Department of Economics and at the Oxford Martin School, with research focusing on social protection and labour markets. In his current work, he is using experimental methods to study the potential to leverage innovations in the design and delivery of social protection systems to increase household resilience to poverty and to extreme climate events such as floods and droughts.

Dr Noam Angrist works as a researcher at the CSAE and the Blavatnik School of Government, contributing to development economics research on education and human capital.

How Can Candidates Apply for the Fellowship?

Applications must be submitted online through the Econ Job Market (EJM) platform, as stated in the official posting. The closing date for applications is midnight UTC on Sunday, 7 June 2026.

Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held online during the week commencing 22 June 2026. The University welcomes applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education, and states that no applicant shall be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

As noted by Global South Opportunities in their disclaimer, GSO is not the organization offering this opportunity, and applicants should contact the official organization directly for any inquiries. Applicants should not send applications and CVs to GSO, as they are unable to process them.

Background of the CSAE Postdoctoral Fellowship Development

The Centre for the Study of African Economies (CSAE) was established as an internationally renowned development economics research centre at the University of Oxford, focusing on economic development in Africa and the Global South. Professor Stefan Dercon was appointed as Director of Oxford’s world-leading Centre for the Study of African Economies when he became Professor of Economic Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government in 2015.

The CSAE has built a reputation for conducting rigorous quantitative research combining field experiments, quasi-experimental designs, and analysis of large-scale administrative, survey, and geospatial data with close engagement with governments and international organisations. The centre’s research portfolio has consistently focused on critical development challenges including poverty reduction, climate resilience, education systems, and human capital outcomes in developing countries.

The postdoctoral fellowship programme represents Oxford’s commitment to nurturing early-career researchers in development economics while maintaining the centre’s position as a global leader in development research. The fellowship design reflects current priorities in development economics, particularly the growing recognition of climate change as a critical factor affecting education systems and human capital development in low-income countries.

How Will This Development Affect Early-Career Development Economics Researchers?

This fellowship opportunity will significantly impact early-career researchers pursuing careers in development economics by providing access to world-class mentorship, research resources, and collaborative networks. Scholars seeking to strengthen their independent academic profile will benefit from working within a collaborative and globally influential research environment at one of the world’s leading universities.

For researchers focusing on climate-education resilience, this position offers a rare opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research addressing one of the most pressing challenges in global development. The fellowship’s emphasis on both ongoing projects and developing new research directions allows fellows to build an independent research trajectory while gaining experience in high-impact collaborative research.

Academic candidates pursuing careers in academia will gain publication opportunities in leading academic journals, academic networking opportunities, and mentorship from established economists like Professor Stefan Dercon, who has extensive experience as both a researcher and policy advisor. The fellowship’s focus on policy engagement with governments and international organisations provides valuable experience for those interested in policy research careers.

For scholars targeting international development institutions, the fellowship offers direct exposure to evidence-based policymaking and practical policy engagement, which are increasingly valued by organisations such as the World Bank, UN agencies, and bilateral development agencies. The quantitative and econometric skills developed through this fellowship, including field experiments and quasi-experimental methods, are highly sought after in both academic and policy research environments.

The timing of this fellowship, with applications closing in June 2026 and interviews in late June 2026, provides early-career researchers with a clear pathway to secure a prestigious position that can significantly enhance their career prospects in development economics. The fellowship’s emphasis on diversity and inclusion, welcoming applications from individuals from all backgrounds including those under-represented in higher education, creates opportunities for a broader range of talented researchers.