Assistant Professor 'Urban and Real Estate Economics'

Are you an ambitious economist with a special interest in urban economics and real estate? Join the Department of Spatial Economics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam!

Your function

We are looking for an internationally minded, ambitious, and collaborative economist who is eager to contribute to our teaching and research, and who shares our passion for the field of spatial economics. Within our department, this includes urban, regional, transport, and environmental economics.

We particularly welcome an economist with expertise in general (spatial) equilibrium modeling and a strong interest in real estate markets. Ideal candidates bring experience with reduced-form estimation and with developing or applying equilibrium models that explain how land and housing markets interact with wider urban and regional dynamics, such as commuting, amenities, and local public goods. The successful candidate will help advance our understanding of how spatial equilibrium mechanisms influence urban form, housing affordability, and real estate investment, and how these insights can support effective urban and housing policies.

In terms of teaching, the department contributes to several bachelor’s, MSc, and PhD programmes. We offer a dedicated MSc in Spatial and Applied Economics, which provides students with the theoretical foundations and analytical skills to address complex policy questions at a high level of abstraction, while maintaining a clear connection to real-world applications. In addition, we teach in related BSc and MSc programmes, a specialized minor in Real Estate Economics and Finance, several courses at Amsterdam University College, and in the doctoral programme of the Tinbergen Institute. In this position, teaching will focus particularly on courses in Real Estate and Urban Economics.

Your duties

• conducting and supervising research (including PhD candidates)
• publishing in leading international economics journals
• teaching at the BSc and MSc level across several programmes
• coordinating courses
• contributing to departmental or school-wide committees and project groups

Your profile

• a PhD in economics or a related discipline
• a clear affinity with the broad field of spatial economics
• strong quantitative and methodological skills
• in-depth knowledge of state-of-the-art research methods relevant to spatial economics
• an ambitious research agenda
• demonstrated potential to build a strong publication record
• experience with teaching at the undergraduate and master’s level
• interest in collaboration with societal partners and in research dissemination (an asset)

What do we offer?

We offer a stimulating position within an international and ambitious research environment.

The initial appointment as Assistant Professor is for 18 months. After 15 months, a performance evaluation will take place and, if positive, the contract will be converted to a permanent position. The role consists of 40% research and 60% teaching. We expect a willingness to learn Dutch so that within three years you can also contribute to programmes taught in Dutch.

About us

Department of Spatial Economics

The position is placed at the Department of Spatial Economics at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, one of the largest departments of its kind in the world. The department is engaged in economic problems in which space plays a prominent role. The academic staff (around 60 persons) address, in their research, urban, regional, transport and environmental challenges from a primarily economic perspective, combining theoretical research and empirical approaches, often enriched through multi-disciplinary collaborations.

School of Business and Economics

We at the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at VU Amsterdam bring together socially relevant teaching and research in the areas of business administration and economics.

Are you interested in joining SBE? You will work in a stimulating, dynamic and international environment with motivated colleagues dedicated to helping society make informed choices.