Research and Development Specialist in Historical Economic Data

About the FDEF

The University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character.

The Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF) at the University of Luxembourg offers a unique academic and research environment.
Rooted in Luxembourg but with a European and international outlook, teaching and research benefit from the proximity of the European institutions, Luxembourg's leading international financial centre and its vibrant business community. Institutional and private sector partnerships, sponsored Chairs and a growing network of international partner universities make the FDEF a dynamic academic hub at the heart of Europe.

Your role

• Locating and obtaining historical statistical sources that exist only in print or as scans, such as official statistical yearbooks, government publications, monographs and archival records, many of them in languages other than English
• Consulting volumes in libraries and archives, including occasional trips abroad, e.g. to the United Kingdom, when a source cannot be accessed remotely, and handling registration and access requests with statistical offices and data archives
• Transcribing statistical tables from printed volumes and scans, and checking every figure against the original page
• Documenting each series, e.g. source, coverage, units, territory and method of compilation, and maintaining the project's data files under version control, in preparation for their public release
• Coordinating the data work of master students and supporting the project's doctoral researcher

The Research and Development Specialist will work under the supervision of Prof. Julien Pénasse. For more information about this role, please contact Prof. Julien Pénasse, email:

Your profile

• Master's degree in economic history or a closely related field, and at least two years of research experience with historical data
• Precision with numbers and careful documentation of sources
• Willingness to travel for short library and archive visits
• Excellent command of English is required

The following will be considered an advantage:

• Experience with historical sources, such as archival research or the compilation of historical statistics
• Good working knowledge of German, French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish or a Scandinavian language
• Experience processing data and programming in any language (for example Python, R, MATLAB or Julia), including version control with Git
• Experience using AI assistants such as Claude or Codex

We offer

• A modern, dynamic university with a personal and inclusive atmosphere. Multilingual and international character. Staff coming from more than 90 countries. Member of The Guild of European Research Intensive Universities
• An exceptional research environment, supported by skilled staff and high-quality equipment. Strong links to professional sectors and the Luxembourg labour market. A unique urban campus with excellent infrastructure
• A partner for society and industry. Cooperation with European institutions, innovative companies, the Financial Centre and a wide range of non-academic partners including ministries, local governments, associations, and NGOs

How to apply

Applications should include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter

Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception. Please apply ONLINE formally through the HR system. Applications by Email will not be considered.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. In line with our values, the University of Luxembourg promotes an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are dedicated to upholding equality and respect for our employees and students.

General information:

• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract 10 Month
• Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Hours per Week
• Location: Belval Campus
• Internal Title: Research and development specialist
• Job Reference: UOL08509

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