Job Description

Are you interested in joining a dynamic and international team of professionals to transform education? IE University's Research Office VR Investigation Strategy Department is looking for an FPI Predoctoral Fellow to join its team!

Research Assistant (FPI) – Family Business, Ownership & Impact

About the role

IE University invites applications for a Research Assistant (FPI) position to support a competitive research project focused on ownership competence and value creation in family-controlled organizations.

The selected candidate will join an interdisciplinary research team working at the intersection of family business, social entrepreneurship, and impact investing. The project combines rigorous academic research with real-world relevance, contributing to leading international debates on sustainability, governance, and hybrid organizations.

This position is designed for a PhD candidate seeking to further develop their research capabilities within a high-quality academic environment, while contributing to impactful, externally funded research projects.

Why IE University?

Every story begins with a purpose, and ours has always been about people. Founded in 1973, IE University has continuously raised the bar to drive positive change through education. We believe education is more than a path to professional success; it is a catalyst for personal transformation and meaningful impact.

At IE University, we place people and their potential at the center of everything we do, empowering individuals to become extraordinary. We encourage bold thinking and foster a culture where innovation, curiosity, and courage lead to real-world impact. Together, we create an environment where talent thrives, and ideas shape the future.

Our mission

We support students in developing impact skills to live and lead with positive impact. This ignites a ripple effect: We transform people, who then transform others, systems, society, and, ultimately, our world.

Our Purpose

To foster positive change.

Values

Responsibilities

Your role as a Fellow will involve:

• Support the development of high-quality academic research in the areas of family business, ownership, and impact investing.
• Conduct systematic literature reviews and contribute to the conceptual development of research projects.
• Collect, clean, and manage large-scale quantitative and qualitative datasets from multiple sources (e.g., archival data, databases, interviews).
• Perform data analysis using appropriate methodologies (quantitative and/or qualitative), under the guidance of senior researchers.
• Assist in the preparation of academic manuscripts for submission to top-tier journals.
• Contribute to the development of case studies and research outputs bridging academic and practical relevance.
• Collaborate closely with an interdisciplinary and international research team.
• Support dissemination activities, including conference submissions and presentations.
• Participate in ongoing funded research projects and related academic activities.

Qualifications

To thrive in this role, you should possess the following qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in a PhD program in Management, Economics, Finance, or a related field.
• Strong interest in research areas such as family firms, ownership and governance, impact investing, ESG, social entrepreneurship, or sustainable finance.
• Solid research training and familiarity with academic research processes.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Intellectual curiosity, autonomy, and ability to manage long-term research projects.
• Openness to feedback and ability to work collaboratively.
• Ability to thrive in international and interdisciplinary environments.
• Fluent in English (Spanish is a plus).

Technical Skills

• Experience with, or willingness to rapidly learn, data analysis tools such as Stata, R, or Python
• Familiarity with quantitative and/or qualitative research methods.
• Ability to work with datasets and research databases.

What we offer

• Close collaboration with leading scholars in family business and impact investing.
• A high-quality, research-intensive academic environment that supports the development of advanced research skills.
• Strong support for publishing in top-tier academic journals.
• Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research projects with academic and societal impact.
• Funding support for participation in major international conferences (e.g., AOM, SMS, EGOS).
• Engagement in research projects at the intersection of academia and practice.
• International and intellectually stimulating work environment.
• Flexible working conditions, including partial remote work.

Additional information

• Location: Madrid
• Start date: June 2026
• Duration: 4 years
• Full-time position

Unleash your full potential and make an impact. The next move is yours! If you want to be part of this educational revolution, we invite you to apply and be part of our dynamic team at IE University. At IE University, we actively promote equal opportunities in recruitment processes and access to employment, always ensuring the absence of gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, ethnic origin, or disability bias throughout the entire selection process.