Research Associate in Innovation and Operations Management (Fixed Term)

Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS) sits at the heart of the University of Cambridge and within one of Europe's most vibrant entrepreneurship and technology clusters. The School provides a collegian, ambitious environment with strong support for rigorous, original, and impactful research.

The Business School invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the project R&D Incentives Under Subjective Evaluation, under the supervision of the Professor of Innovation and Operations Management. The successful candidate will work at the intersection of theory and practice in innovation-intensive settings, developing game-theoretic models and leading empirical analyses, including controlled experiments and archival or industry data studies, that connect rigorous theory to real-world insights in R&D management. The role is research-focused with no teaching responsibilities and offers the opportunity to co-author high-quality publications.

The ideal candidate will hold a PhD or be near completion in Operations, Economics, Decision Sciences, or a related field, with strong skills in Game Theory (information economics, contract theory, or principal-agent models) and empirical methods (econometrics or experimental design). Proficiency in Python, R, Matlab, Stata, or LaTeX is required, along with evidence of research potential and strong scientific communication skills. Experience in innovation, R&D management, complex datasets, experiments, structural estimation, or causal inference is desirable, as is an interest in industry engagement and real-world impact.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research on R&D incentives in a supportive, internationally recognized academic environment.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal queries may be directed to n.taneri@jbs.cam.ac.uk.

Please quote reference NS48188 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Apply online

Key information

Department/location

Judge Business School

Salary

£37,694-£46,049

Reference

NS48188

Category

Research

Date published

5 December 2025

Closing date

23 February 2026