Two Ph.D. Positions in Entrepreneurial Finance – Scale-up Funding: Junior Stock Exchanges

The Institute of Technology Management (ITEM-HSG) at the University of St.Gallen invites applications for two Ph.D. positions in a three-year project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) "Bridging the Scale-up Funding Gap: The Design, Attractiveness, and Outcomes of Junior Stock Exchange Markets".

The positions involve:

Researching how junior stock exchanges help high-growth ventures access public capital, from exchange design and listing decisions to IPO fundraising and ecosystem effects

Being involved in all research stages, from study design and data collection to econometric analysis and publication

Collaboration among both Ph.D. researchers through joint working sessions and a shared data infrastructure

Presenting at leading international conferences and engaging with practitioners and policymakers

The Institute of Technology Management (ITEM-HSG) at the University of St.Gallen conducts research and teaching at the interface of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, with a strong commitment to transferring knowledge into practice. Its Chair of Entrepreneurship, led by Prof. Dr. Dietmar Grichnik, combines academic excellence with practical impact through its leading research on entrepreneurial decision-making, venture financing, start-up and scale-up management, and technology entrepreneurship, its contributions to policymaking for Switzerland's entrepreneurial ecosystem, and its close ties to HSG's vibrant entrepreneurship community.

"A place where knowledge is created" - As one of Europe's leading universities of economics and business administration, the University of St.Gallen (HSG), Switzerland, is committed to the education of over 10'000 students. The HSG is one of the largest employers in the region and provides an attractive and innovative environment for more than 3'800 researchers, educators and professional staff.

• Candidates are expected to enroll in the Ph.D. Programme in Management (PMA) at the University of St.Gallen, with Prof. Dr. Petrit Ademi and Prof. Dr. Dietmar Grichnik as supervisors.

• Outstanding Master's degree in finance, management, entrepreneurship, economics, or a related field

• Strong interest in entrepreneurial finance, institutions, decision-making processes, high-growth ventures, IPOs, and capital markets

• Strong analytical and econometric skills; experience with archival data (e.g., Refinitiv, PitchBook, etc.) and experience with experimental or survey-based methods is a plus; experience with programming languages and statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, or Python) is an advantage

• Excellent command of English; German is an asset but not required

• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in international teams

• Prior research experience or practical experience in venture capital, investment banking, or the start-up/scale-up ecosystem is a plus

• Before you submit your application, please ensure that your degree meets the formal requirements for enrollment in the Ph.D. programme in Management at the University of St.Gallen.