PhD scholarship within Economics at Skatteforsk

About the position

One position as doctoral fellow in economics is available at the School of Economics and Business at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) outside Oslo, at the most beautiful campus in Norway. The fellowship period is 3 years, with the possibility of extension for up to one year. Starting date: January 1st, 2027. 

The positions will be part of ongoing projects at Skatteforsk – Norwegian Centre for Tax Research, an independent and ambitious research centre hosted by the School of Economics and Business at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). The centre is led by Professor Annette Alstadsæter and Research Director Ron Davies (University College Dublin). 

The core research group is based at NMBU, and its international network includes researchers from our sister centres: the International Tax Observatory in Paris, and CenTax in the UK. As well as numerous research fellows at Columbia University, University College Dublin, Harvard, and more. This diverse and interdisciplinary group represents the forefront of international tax research. By fostering an environment of direct interaction between established scholars and early-career researchers, it focuses on both producing cutting-edge scholarship and fostering the development of its members. 

The centre is rapidly expanding with an active academic calendar that combines regular research seminars, international workshops, an annual conference, and frequent international research visits. 

We aim to fill a PhD position to develop new empirical evidence on how multinational enterprises (MNEs) organize their activities and in response to a changing regulatory and technological landscape. The aim is to draw on Norwegian and other detailed administrative micro data such as Country-by-Country Reporting to document the scale and concentration of MNE activity, including where MNEs report their profits and offset their losses. We also aim to examine how MNEs respond to evolving international tax and transparency rules, especially anti-avoidance reforms. A specific focus is placed on corporate responses to substance requirements linking tax benefits to real economic activity and how these rules affect firms' investment decisions, economic outcomes, and innovation. 

Main tasks

The position is part of an ongoing grant (“Building new foundations for Public Economics and Law”) at Skatteforsk – Norwegian Centre for Tax Research. The student will help fulfil planned deliverables and is expected to develop their own projects within these topics.

The purpose of the fellowship is to qualify the candidate for a position at a well-recognized research institution upon graduation.

The successful candidate must submit a study and research plan during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period. Further, the candidate is expected to present and discuss research at internal seminars, workshops, and international conferences, participate actively in the PhD student community and contribute to the academic environment at Skatteforsk and the School.

The School of Economics and Business has an ambitious research strategy and currently hosts around 30 doctoral students who conduct research in diverse areas, including finance, strategy and management, tax, environment, climate, energy, natural resources, development, food, commodity markets, and entrepreneurship and innovation.

Competence

An application for a doctoral fellowship is also an application for admission to the PhD program at the School of Economics and Business. The documentation needed to meet the admission requirements must therefore be uploaded as an attachment. For more detailed information on the admission criteria, please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.

Required qualifications

• The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are at master’s degree level. 
• An average grade of B or better for the overall master’s degree and a grade of B or better on the master’s theses.
• Relevant academic background will be a master's degree in public economics or related field.

Desired qualifications: 

• Familiarity with the tax system
• Experience with coding in Stata or similar programs.
• The applicant must be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. 

We also emphasise analytical ability, motivation, creativity, and ability to work in teams and independently. Any evidence that candidates can supply in this regard will be helpful for the assessment (e.g., participation in research projects, publications). It is an advantage if the applicant speaks and writes a Scandinavian language.

Remuneration and further information

The position is placed in position code 1017 PhD. Fellow, (NOK 550 800). Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars, and in accordance with the Civil Servant Act, the Security Act, and the Export Control Act. 

The period of appointment is three years but may be extended to four years if the doctoral student contributes to teaching or supervision, or other administrative tasks during the appointment period.

Interested in learning more about the position? Contact Skatteforsk’s Project Manager Hector Ulloa, phone: +47 41298837, or e-mail us at skatteforsk@nmbu.no or alternatively Vice-dean for research, Professor Frode Alfnes, e-mail: frode.alfnes@nmbu.no

Information for PhD applicants and general Information to applicants

Application

Send application electronically via the link "Apply for this job" at the top of this page. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form. 

Application Deadline: November 1, 2026

Your CV must be entered in Jobbnorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is in order to be able to comply with the regulations of the Public Administration Act §15.

In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.

Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.

The following documents must be attached to the application:

• Motivation letter (a statement of motivation and research interests and may also include an outline of the proposed doctoral research project). Maximum 2 pages. 
• CV 
• Certified copies of relevant academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
• Applicants from universities outside Norway must attach a document which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
• Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with  Regulations for the Doctor Philosophiae (PhD) degree at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences - Lovdata
• Names and contact details of two references.

Applications with incomplete documentation will not be considered. 

About the School of Economics and Business

The School of Economics and Business at NMBU educates bachelor and master students in business administration and economics, offers master programs in bioeconomy, entrepreneurship and innovation, and has its own PhD program. 

We have approximately 800 bachelor and master students and 40 doctoral students attending classes on campus as well as 2,000 students attending the online one-year program in sustainable economics and management.

The School of Economics and Business has significant research activity in several thematic areas, including business administration, economics, tax, entrepreneurship and innovation, environment, climate, energy, and philosophy. 
The school has approximately 60 full-time employees and is located on Campus Ås.

The School of Economics and Business received AACSB accreditation in 2025, which verifies the quality of the school’s educational programs and research, and places NMBUs School of Economics and Business among the world's leading business schools. For more information, see www.nmbu.no/en/faculty/hh