Centre for Economic Expertise
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
Vilnius University, Lithuania
Start date: 1 September 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter)
Employment duration: 36 months (MSCA DN funding)
We are excited to announce a call for two fully funded PhD research positions in Energy Economics at the Centre for Economic Expertise, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Vilnius University (VU FEBA). The positions are funded for 36 months under the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network ENERPOL, part of the EU Horizon Europe programme. These doctoral positions offer a unique opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research on household behaviour and the green energy transition within an international consortium of leading academic and industry partners. Below you will find detailed information about the positions, eligibility criteria, and application process.
ENERPOL Doctoral Network
Within the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA), we offer two positions for doctoral candidates, starting 1 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. Each PhD research position is funded for 36 months by the ENERPOL MSCA Doctoral Network (ENERPOL DN).
ENERPOL is a European doctoral research and training network exploring the role of households in the green energy transition. It addresses challenges such as volatile energy prices, inequality, and household risk exposure. ENERPOL provides PhDs with a unique training opportunity in cutting-edge methods, theory, and transferable skills within an international consortium of leading universities and non-academic partners. ENERPOL DN includes: (1) several international summer schools and workshops, (2) cross-national supervision teams dedicated to the project of the PhD, (3) one academic and one industry secondment.
In collaboration with researchers at other ENERPOL institutions, the doctoral candidates will be supervised by Professor Jūratė Jaraitė, Professor Andrius Kažukauskas and Professor Robertas Zubrickas. The group works on various research questions related to energy, behavioural and public economics.
Position 1: PhD topic - “Smart contracts for household demand response”
This PhD project aims to assess the appropriate design aspects of markets for energy flexibility; to design several flexibility-related contracts; to test flexibility-related contracts in economic laboratory experiments.
Position 2: PhD topic - “Determinants of household demand response”
This PhD project aims to develop choice and (or) survey experiments to assess what promotes and hampers demand response among different electricity consumers; to conduct choice and (or) survey experiments in Lithuania, Germany, Poland, and Sweden to identify factors that encourage household DR in countries with different cultural backgrounds and social norms.
About the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA) at Vilnius University is one of the leading institutions for higher education in economics, management, and business studies in Lithuania and the Baltic region. With a strong tradition of academic excellence, the faculty offers a diverse range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs that combine rigorous theoretical foundations with practical relevance. Known for its international collaborations, research activity, and commitment to developing analytical and entrepreneurial skills, the faculty prepares students to excel in both the academic, private, and public sectors of a rapidly changing global economy. You can learn more about the faculty here https://www.evaf.vu.lt/en/.
The Center for Economic Expertise at the FEBA is a research unit established in collaboration with the Bank of Lithuania that focuses on advancing high-quality economic and financial research. Its team of economists conducts scholarly work across areas such as banking, economic policy, energy economics, consumer behavior, corporate finance, and international macroeconomics, aiming to combine rigorous academic knowledge with innovative research methods and contribute to solutions for real-world economic challenges. The Center also promotes academic discussion, publishes research in respected international journals, and helps strengthen Vilnius University’s role as a leading competence hub in economics and finance.
Job Description
- Complete the FEBA’s PhD in Economics courses and training offered by ENERPOL DN.
- Conduct independent research in energy economics under supervision.
- Prepare a PhD dissertation in economics.
- Present research at national, international conferences and ENERPOL DN training events.
- Collaborate with academic and industry partners inside the ENERPOL network.
- Contribute to other types of dissemination related to your PhD project.
- Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another ENERPOL DN institution, and a secondment at an industry partner.
Required Qualifications
As an applicant you must have:
- Master’s degree in Economics or related discipline (ideally, with strong knowledge of statistical and experimental methods) with very good grades.
- Solid training in microeconomics and applied econometrics.
- Ability to work with statistical software (e.g., STATA, R, or similar).
- Written and spoken fluency in English and excellent communication skills.
Applicants will also be required to meet the European Commission’s MSCA DN eligibility criteria, notably:
- Mobility Rule - Applicants can be of any nationality and must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Lithuania for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the start of their employment at Vilnius University. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.
- Doctoral Candidate requirement – the applicant must not be in possession of a doctoral degree at the first day of the employment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis, but who have not yet been awarded the doctoral degree are not eligible.
Please note that you will only be considered for the position if you fulfil both above MSCA DN eligibility criteria.
Terms of Employment
The employment as PhD fellow in ENERPOL DN is full time and limited to a period of 3 years. The start date is September 1 or after agreement.
The employment is conditioned upon the applicant’s successful enrolment as a PhD student at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Vilnius University.
The doctoral candidate's gross monthly salary will be based on the terms of the MSCA DN salary scheme and is governed by the grant agreement, which specifies the amount of the funding. The expected monthly gross salary for the position is EUR 3472 (living allowance), with an additional allowance of EUR 710 (mobility allowance) paid in accordance with the grant agreement, bringing the total monthly gross salary to EUR 4182. Where applicable, a family allowance of EUR 660 per month may also be available. The salary ensures a very good standard of living in Vilnius and is subject to Lithuanian taxes and benefits, including public health care benefits and pension savings. The final salary will be confirmed during the recruitment process.
The PhD Programme at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
The PhD programme at the FEBA is a four-year programme, which combines an intensive course component with research and relevant work experience, preparing the school’s graduates for scholarly positions at recognised international institutions and positions in knowledge-intensive institutions and firms outside of academia.
The PhD candidates will be included in a highly stimulating and rewarding research environment, working closely with PhD supervisors and other faculty members. PhD candidates participate actively in the faculty’s research seminars and workshops. As part of the position, the PhD candidates have a possibility to allocate 25% of their time to career promoting work such as teaching assistance. The place of work is at the FEBA building in Vilnius, where the PhD candidates will have their own office space and required work equipment.
The city of Vilnius offers a mild coastal climate and hosts rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities, as well as a family-friendly environment. Note that healthcare, schools, and most other public services are free in Lithuania. To explore Lithuania and the city of Vilnius, go to https://lithuania.travel/en.
Application Requirements
The application with all required enclosures must be submitted to system at https://is.vu.lt/pls/dokt/isas.register?p_kalba=en or sent by e-mail .
All required documents must be submitted from 17 February 2026 to 31 March 2026 hour 23:59.
List of documents you must submit:
- an application addressed to the Rector;
- motivation letter (max 1 page);
- a copy of the passport or any other valid identification card;
- copies of your Master’s diploma or of a higher education diploma comparable to it and their supplements. You need to have completed your master’s degree prior to the starting date for the position (1 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter). If you have not completed your degree when applying for the position, please attach a transcript of records of the courses and grades that you have completed so far.
- copies of your bachelor’s degree or equivalent and their supplements;
- Curriculum Vitae;
- a completed questionnaire with a photo;
- a research project (for more information please see below section Requirements for a Research Project);
- a list of research works and their copies, conference presentations, works awarded at academic competitions (if there is any);
- one writing sample (e.g., Master’s thesis or research paper);
- recommendations by two academic referees from the field of economics or related disciplines;
- a statement detailing periods of residence/work/study in the last 36 months (MSCA DN requirement);
- a certificate proving the level of English (not lower than B2; approval is required if the master's thesis was written in a language other than English);
- Receipt of entrance fee (entrance fee is EUR 50 for citizens of Lithuania and the European Union, EUR 100 for citizens of other countries).
Applicants also must submit a consent to the processing of personal data at Vilnius University.
A copy of the certificate on the recognition of higher education qualifications obtained abroad also might be asked to submit.
Other important documents, such as a certificate of completion of various courses or examinations passed at the doctoral level, are welcome too.
All documents issued in a language other than English or Lithuanian should be supplemented with an official translation.
Doctoral committees can require submitting additional documents which are not provided for in Vilnius University Regulations on Doctoral Studies.
Requirements for a Research Project
The title of the research project should be related to one of the PhD research topics as indicated above. Please note that your research proposal is tentative and often needs adjustments after your acceptance into the programme. The length of the research proposal is limited to 3 000 words including references.
Research projects will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- The title is clear and describes well the research question.
- The research question is clearly formulated, relevant and well-motivated.
- a) What is the main research question?
- b) Why is this scientific problem important?
- c) What are the research goals and objectives?
- A brief analytic discussion of the scholarly research to date on the topic.
- a) What is the current state of research in the field?
- b) What have been the main scientific contributions to date?
- c) What will be the original contribution to knowledge of this research project?
- Theoretical framework and methodological approach of research have been described.
- a) What are the main theoretical/empirical challenges related to your research question?
- b) What (type of) data will you use?
- c) What are the expected stages and the course of the proposed research?
- d) Does this project include any collaboration with other researchers or organizations?
- e) How realistic is the implementation of the project in practical terms?
- A brief statement of applicant’s qualifications.
- a) Have your previous degrees given you the necessary knowledge of the field, discipline, and methodologies you require?
- b) What research training will you need to undertake to achieve your research objectives?
General information
For more information on the FEBA’s PhD Economics programme, please consult the FEBA PhD website.
Please note that applicants for the PhD research position in ENERPOL DN do not need to apply separately for admission to the FEBA PhD programme.
For questions and inquiries about the FEBA’s PhD programme, please contact .