PhD Position in Entrepreneurship at TUM School of Management
The TUM Entrepreneurship Research Institute (Chair of Entrepreneurial Behavior, Professor Nicola Breugst) is looking for a PhD candidate (Wissenschaftliche*r Mitarbeiter*in, m/w/d), starting in fall 2026 or later.
Position
Our focus is on the “people side” of entrepreneurship, with a specific interest in entrepreneurial motivation, entrepreneurial affect, and collaboration in startup teams. We will support you in developing your own ideas in relation to these topics.
We are looking for dynamic, self-motivated team players with an interest in embarking on an academic career. You will join a vibrant and supportive team of internationally minded academics committed to the highest standards of research and teaching. Specifically, you will develop and work on high-quality research projects following quantitative and/or qualitative approaches that result in contributions to leading international conferences and peer-reviewed journals. Moreover, your research should form the basis of your doctoral dissertation. As a PhD candidate, you will benefit from excellent training as well as developmental support throughout your time at our institute. From the first year, you will contribute to our teaching program, including the opportunity to design and teach your own courses. Finally, you will support our institute and the entrepreneurial ecosystem in which it is located.
Following the standard German model, successful candidates will be employed as a research assistant at level E 13 TV-L of the German public sector pay scale. The initial appointment is for two years, with the possibility of extension.
Requirements
You have (or are close to completing) an outstanding degree in business administration, (organizational) psychology, business informatics, or related subjects and are curious to dive deeper into entrepreneurship research. While our institute’s working language is English and you need to be fluent in English, we expect a good command of the German language. Furthermore, basic knowledge of statistics and empirical research are desirable. Beyond any formal requirements, we are looking for enthusiastic candidates willing to learn and to take on responsibility.
Application procedure
Please send a cover letter (specifying your research interests, motivation for an academic career, and possible starting date), your resume, and copies of relevant certificates via email only (as a single pdf file) to Milena Barg (< email deleted for security reasons >) until September 15, 2026. Please use the exact subject line: “Application PhD Position Entrepreneurial Behavior”. If you have an example of your academic work (e.g., a seminar paper or a final thesis), you are kindly requested to include them in your application package. In case of any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
As an equal opportunity employer, TUM explicitly encourages applications from women and all others who will bring additional diversity to the university. Preference will be given to disabled candidates with essentially the same qualifications.