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Assistant Professor of Economics

University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 4, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell us about your job market paper and its main contribution.

What they are checking: Whether they can explain their research clearly and show its importance.

What papers come next, and how do they build on your current work?

What they are checking: A credible research pipeline for tenure at a highly ranked department.

Tell us about a time you got tough feedback on a paper. How did you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they treat hard referee reports as a way to improve the work, because publishing in economics depends on handling rejection well.

How would you mentor undergraduates or graduate students in research?

What they are checking: Whether they will invest time in students' research growth, since the college values mentoring as part of what faculty owe.

What would you do

What undergraduate course would you want to teach, and how would you make it engaging?

What they are checking: Whether they care about undergraduate teaching and have concrete ideas for it, because teaching is a real part of this job, not an afterthought.

Who in the department would you want to work with, and why?

What they are checking: Whether they researched the faculty and see real collaborators, which signals genuine interest and a good chance they will stay and thrive.

How do you explain your research to someone outside economics?

What they are checking: Whether they can make their work clear to non-economists, since funders, students and policymakers all need to understand why it matters.

About the work

How does your research contribute to understanding market-based solutions to societal challenges?

What they are checking: Whether their research genuinely fits the area this search is hiring for, since departments hire to build a specific strength.

Walk us through the main identification or modeling choice in your paper and the strongest objection to it.

What they are checking: Rigor and the ability to defend their work under tough questions.

How would you teach a first-year PhD course in your field?

What they are checking: Whether they can train PhD students in core methods, since graduate teaching shapes the program's reputation and its students' careers.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Job Category: Faculty Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Assistant Professor Job Summary: The highly ranked Department of Economics is seeking excellent candidates for a tenure-track faculty position. We welcome applications from scholars in any field of economics. Fields currently represented in the Department include, but are not limited to, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics, Mathematical and Quantitative Economics (including Econometrics), International Economics, Public Economics, Labor Economics, Economic Development, and Industrial Organization. The successful candidate will conduct and publish independent scholarly research in nationally and internationally recognized outlets through a research agenda that contributes to the analysis of market-based solutions to societal challenges, as described under Qualifications. The successful candidate, as a member of the College of L&S, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college’s commitment to excellence among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service; which includes making significant contributions to the department’s teaching mission through course development and delivery to undergraduate and graduate students in one or more fields of economics specialization. The general teaching load is 2 courses per year, 1 in one semester and 1 in the other. In keeping with the college’s educational mission that prioritizes and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring, successful applicants will supervise and mentor graduate students, including thesis and dissertation research; contribute to the development of Department programs and serve on departmental committees; and participate in the academic and administrative affairs of the Department and in university, professional, national, and international service as appropriate to rank. The successful candidate will engage in the intellectual life of the Department through scholarly research, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, graduate student mentoring and supervision, and university and professional service. The Department values open inquiry, rigorous debate, and scholarly engagement with competing explanations and institutional approaches. The Department of Economics at UW-Madison is highly rated and is a leader in its field, generally ranked in the top 15 economics departments in the nation. Our department is multidisciplinary and has a highly collaborative environment. Madison is the state's capitol city and is well known for offering a small town feel in a medium sized city. It is a great place to raise a family and offers an ideal combination of natural beauty, stimulating cultural events, outstanding schools and outdoor recreation. In the College of Letters & Science, we provide a liberal arts education that is both broad and deep through excellent, empathic teaching. We hire faculty who are interested in pursuing difficult questions, making new discoveries, and making an impact in their field. We reward excellent teaching and classroom innovation, and we are committed to shared governance. Learn more about the L&S mission on our webpage: https://ls.wisc.edu/about/mission . Key Job Responsibilities: Conduct and publish independent scholarly research in nationally and internationally recognized outlets through a research agenda that contributes to the analysis of market-based solutions to societal challenges Participate in the academic and administrative affairs of the Department and in university, professional, national, and international service as appropriate to rank Contributions to course development and delivery for undergraduates and graduates. Supervise and mentor graduate students, including thesis and dissertation research Proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college’s commitment to excellence among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service. Contribute to the development of Department programs and serve on departmental committees Department: College of Letters and Science - Department of Economics Compensation: Negotiable – 9 months / ongoing / renewable Required Qualifications: This position is part of a university initiative to broaden the range of scholarly perspectives represented on campus. The search is broad with respect to field and methodology, while focused on research that takes market institutions, competition, incentives, or alternative institutional arrangements as central objects of analysis in addressing societal challenges. Relevant topics include but are not limited to: competition and market power; property rights and contracting; entrepreneurship and innovation; the design, effects, and limits of regulation; institutional and mechanism design; decentralized information and price formation; and market-based approaches to policy problems. Applicants should have research underway that demonstrates the potential to produce high-quality publications and make a lasting impact in their field of specialization and should demonstrate the potential for excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate fostering or the ability to foster a teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and research environment where all can thrive. The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to an environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community. Education: A PhD in economics required by start of appointment. How to Apply: Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications. Application materials must clearly demonstrate the applicant’s dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring. Additionally, materials should showcase the applicant’s ability to purposefully plan their teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation. This portion of the application materials must be created by the applicant and may include supporting letters. It cannot be only in the form of letters and testimony by others. Apply online at "Jobs at UW" (http://jobs.wisc.edu) under Job Requisition JR10014688. Applications must be received through UW- Madison's online application system. Applications submitted outside of this system will not be considered. Click the "Apply Now" button to start the application process. Applicants should submit the following 4 items: • a letter of application • curriculum vitae • a combined research, teaching, and mentoring statement • a job market paper All applicants will receive an email after their application is submitted asking them to provide the name and contact information for three references, and each reference will receive an electronic link through which they can upload a signed letter of reference. For full consideration, all materials must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on November 15th, 2026. Applications received after that date may be considered until position is filled. Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications. Contact Information: If you have any questions, please contact Tammy Herbst-Koel (tammy.herbst- koel@wisc.edu ). Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information. Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website . To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department .

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