"Tenured Professorship (W3, Full Professor) for the Adenauer School of Government (f/m/x)"

Tenured Professorship (W3, Full Professor) for the Adenauer School of Government (f/m/x)

The University of Cologne is one of the oldest and largest universities in Germany. With its six faculties covering a broad spectrum of disciplines and its internationally outstanding research profile areas, it enjoys an excellent reputation for its academic achievements and high standards of undergraduate and graduate education.

The University of Cologne is establishing the Adenauer School of Government (ASG) – a new institution advancing public policy and democracy in data- and technology-rich environments. Supported by the Alfred Landecker Foundation, we will be recruiting exceptional scholars to build a center for research, teaching, and policy impact. This is one of our first new faculty appointments. Join us in studying and shaping how democratic institutions and decision makers adapt, innovate, and govern effectively in the 21st century.

Your Tasks

As a founding member, you will shape the ASG while building an internationally visible research agenda. You will work with exceptional students across disciplines, developing policy solutions that combine theoretical depth with empirical rigor and technological innovation. You will push research boundaries, innovate in teaching, and collaborate across disciplines such as economics, data science, law, and behavioral science.

Your Profile

We invite applications from outstanding scholars interested in public policy. We are aiming for a broad spectrum of methodologies and topics, including but not confined to artificial intelligence and machine learning, applied economics, political economy, market design, behavioral and decision sciences, or law and economics. Exceptional candidates from adjacent areas are also welcome to apply. You bring a strong record of research excellence with publications in leading international journals, clear alignment with ASG’s mission to advance governance and public policy, and teaching excellence. Ideally, you have demonstrated engagement with policy and societal impact through transfer activities, public outreach, or applied projects, and a commitment to institution building and academic self-governance. We particularly value methodological rigor, interdisciplinary perspectives, and experience bridging academic research with practical policy solutions.

We Offer

The ASG offers a dynamic research environment within a thriving public policy ecosystem, including the Cluster of Excellence “ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy“, the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, as well as strong faculty partners across disciplines. Your expertise will complement and expand our institutional strengths. As one of the first ASG appointees, you will shape a new institution with significant autonomy, opportunities and exceptional interdisciplinary colleagues.

The University of Cologne further provides a wide range of career development opportunities as well as support services for dual career couples and family-friendly working conditions.

The professorship is tenured at the W3 level, with appointment in the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, and with organizational affiliation to the ASG. Remuneration and teaching load are internationally competitive and will be negotiated with the rectorate and the foundation. Formal requirements are detailed in Section 36 of the Higher Education Act of North Rhine-Westphalia (Hochschulgesetz – HG NRW). The anticipated start date is approximately four months after the review start date or as agreed.

The University of Cologne promotes equal opportunities and diversity. Women will be considered preferentially in accordance with the Equal Opportunities Act of North Rhine-Westphalia (Landesgleichstellungsgesetz – LGG NRW). We also expressly welcome applications from all suitable candidates regardless of their gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.

Please submit your application (without a photo) via the University of Cologne’s Academic Job Portal https://jobportal.uni-koeln.de until 12 February 2026, when review of applications will begin. Your application should be addressed to Professor Axel Ockenfels, Director of the ASG, and include the following documents in English: CV, publication list, and teaching evaluations (if available).

For further information, please contact Professor Axel Ockenfels at asg-appointments@uni-koeln.de.