Vilnius University (VU) invites motivated researchers with a strong track record to prepare joint applications for 2026 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PF) call with a deadline on September 9, 2026. MSCA PFs are among Europe’s most prestigious research schemes, supporting researchers’ career development while strengthening their creative, innovative capacity and promoting excellence in research.
- European Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to researchers of any nationality who wish to engage in R&I projects by either coming to Europe from any country in the world or moving within Europe (12-24 months).
- Global Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to European nationals or long-term residents who wish to engage in R&I projects with organisations outside EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries (12-24 months outgoing phase in a non-associated Third Country & 12 months mandatory return phase to a host organisation in Europe).
- Boost your chances of success with ERA Fellowships!If you are applying for the European Postdoctoral Fellowship with a host institution in a widening country (such as Lithuania), and your proposal is not funded under the MSCA PF call due to budget limitations, it will automatically be resubmitted to the ERA Fellowships call, which will give your project an additional opportunity to receive support.
- Additional incentive available for researchers applying with host institutions in Lithuania! The Government of the Republic of Lithuania has transferred some European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funds to the Horizon Europe programme, enabling the European Commission to finance more well-evaluated MSCA PF projects submitted with Lithuanian institutions.
HOST INSTITUTION AND RESEARCH GROUP
Founded in 1579, VU combines centuries of academic excellence with a strong contemporary research culture. As the largest university in Lithuania, it comprises 15 academic units and brings together more than 3,400 academic staff and over 26,000 students. Its active research community is supported by extensive infrastructure, including research institutes, 3 university hospitals, the oldest academic library in the Baltics, 3 botanical gardens, and an astronomical observatory, creating a fertile environment for scientific discovery and innovation.
VU consistently ranks as the top university in the country, excelling in both education and a broad range of fundamental and applied research. Recognised among Central and Eastern Europe’s leading research institutions, it fosters cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research and maintains strong partnerships within a global academic network.
The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Department of Finance, offers a highly supportive and internationally oriented research environment for post-doctoral research in green and digital transformation. Its strong expertise in finance and quantitative economics, combined with advanced research infrastructure such as the BLOOMBERG LAB and VU LABBE (Laboratory for Behavioural Economics), enables rigorous, policy-relevant analysis of sustainable finance, digital financial systems, and the behavioural dimensions of economic transformation. This makes the faculty an ideal host institution for innovative research addressing green finance, ESG integration, climate risk, and digital financial systems, where robust quantitative approaches are essential.
SUPERVISOR
Professor Dr Jelena Stankevičienė is a senior researcher in finance at VU, with extensive experience in financial economics, sustainable finance, and financial technologies. With over two decades of academic and leadership experience, including roles as Dean and Vice-Dean for Research, she has strong expertise in research management and international collaboration. She currently serves as Chair of the Doctoral Committee in Economics and Editor-in-Chief of a Scopus-indexed journal.
Her research lies at the intersection of finance, sustainability, and digital transformation, focusing on green finance (ESG, circular economy), digital transformation and financial system stability, quantitative methods, and value creation. Her work addresses key challenges of sustainable transitions and digitalisation in financial systems. She has 70+ publications, including ABS-listed and Q1/Q2 journals, with strong citation metrics (WoS h-index 13; Scopus 16; GS 24).
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL SKILLS
The ideal candidate should have a strong academic background in economics, finance, or a closely related field, with demonstrated expertise in quantitative research methods (e.g., econometrics, financial modelling, data analytics). A completed PhD with a focus on sustainable finance, environmental economics, and digital transformation is expected.
Prior research experience in areas such as green finance, ESG analysis, climate-related financial risk, circular economy, or digital financial systems will be considered a significant advantage. Familiarity with large-scale datasets, programming tools (e.g., R, Python, Stata), and empirical modelling techniques is highly desirable. Experience in interdisciplinary research, particularly combining sustainability and digitalisation, is also beneficial.
In terms of personal skills, the candidate is expected to show:
- Analytical and critical thinking abilities, with a capacity to address complex research problems;
- Independence and initiative, alongside the ability to work effectively within interdisciplinary teams;
- Excellent academic writing and communication skills in English;
- Strong time management and organisational skills, ensuring efficient project implementation;
- A proactive attitude toward knowledge dissemination, networking, and stakeholder engagement.
Motivation to contribute to research at the intersection of sustainability and digital transformation, including policy-relevant outcomes and societal impact, is essential. The candidate should also be committed to career development, open science practices, and international mobility, in line with the objectives of the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships programme.
POSSIBLE RESEARCH TOPICS
- Climate Risk Pricing and Digital Information in Financial Markets
Do Digital Information Flows Improve the Pricing of Climate Risk in Financial Markets? This project examines whether the increasing availability of digital ESG data, AI-driven ratings, and alternative data sources improves how financial markets price climate-related risks. Key contributions: bridges the asset pricing literature with the digital transformation of information systems, addresses inconsistencies in ESG ratings and their financial relevance, and provides policy insights on transparency and disclosure regulation. Methods: asset pricing models, panel econometrics, machine learning, textual/satellite data. - Digital Transformation, Green Finance, and Capital Allocation Efficiency
Does DigitalT Enhance Capital Allocation towards Sustainable Investments? This project investigates whether digital transformation ecosystems (digital lending, crowdfunding, and blockchain) improve capital allocation toward green and sustainable projects. Key contributions: links digital finance with sustainable investment flows, identifies mechanisms: reduced frictions, improved screening, and financial inclusion, and provides evidence relevant for the EU sustainable finance strategy. Methods: cross-country panel data, firm-level datasets, causal inference (DiD, IV). - Digital Transformation, ESG Performance, and Firm Value
Digital Transformation, ESG Performance, and Firm Value: Complementarity or Trade-Off? This project explores whether digitalisation and ESG strategies reinforce each other or create trade-offs in terms of firm performance, resilience, and value creation. Key contributions: integrates strategic management and corporate finance perspectives, provides causal evidence on value implications of dual transitions (green + digital), and addresses a key gap in understanding firm-level transformation dynamics. Methods: firm-level panel data, difference-in-differences, instrumental variables. - The Dark Side of Green and Digital Transformation
The Dark Side of Green and Digital Transformation: Greenwashing, Digital Bias, and Misallocation of Capital. This project critically examines the unintended consequences of green and digital transitions, focusing on greenwashing and inconsistencies in ESG ratings, algorithmic bias in AI-driven financial decision-making, and potential misallocation of capital due to flawed sustainability signals. Key contributions: moves beyond “positive narratives” to analyse systemic risks and distortions, integrates behavioural, financial, and technological perspectives, and contributes to debates on regulation, transparency, and ethical AI. Methods: ESG rating divergence analysis, experimental approaches (e.g., behavioural lab evidence), machine learning bias testing, market reaction studies.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
- Supported fellows must be in possession of PhD at the call deadline(September 9, 2026).
- Have up to 8 years experience in research from the date of award of the doctoral degree at the call deadline.
- Fellows must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the call deadline
Detailed information on the eligibility can be found on p. 81-83 of the MSCA Work Programme 2026-2027.
HOW TO APPLY?
- Contact the supervisor, Dr Jelena Stankevičienė (jelena.stankeviciene@evaf.vu.lt), directly to express your interest in making a joint application based on your research interests. Do not forget to provide the following documents(cc to research@cr.vu.lt):
- curriculum vitae
- list of publications
- proposal summary
- Request a letter from your supervisor endorsing you as a candidateand send it to the Research Projects Office (research@cr.vu.lt).
- After receiving your supervisor’s endorsement, you can start preparing your MSCA PF project proposal. Please note that in order to prepare and submit your application on time (by September 9, 2026), you can seek support from VU Research Projects Office (research@cr.vu.lt).
For more information follow the link.
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