Funded PhD Scholarship in France 2027 in Economics and Artificial Intelligence

HEC Paris invites applications for a funded PhD fellowship in the economics of mentorship in its Department of Economics and Decision Sciences. The position starts in September 2027 and the PhD typically takes five years; the announcement does not state an application deadline.

About the PhD Fellowship in the Economics of Mentorship

The fellowship supports research on mentorship in collaboration with the ION Management Science Lab at HEC Paris. The research program examines how mentors and participants are selected and matched, how their interactions are structured, and how incentives influence mentorship. It also studies the effects of mentorship on performance and innovation across startups, mid-sized firms, large enterprises, universities, and non-profit organizations. Collecting and analyzing data is central to the program, which aims to connect academic research with practice and share actionable findings.

The PhD student will join a research team led by Professor Thomas Åstebro, the Lab’s Executive Director, and Professor Carlos Serrano, its Scientific Director. Depending on the research, tasks may include expanding data collection, developing theoretical models and AI-driven tools, designing and conducting experiments, analyzing data, and publishing research.

Possible topics include selecting and supporting startups and entrepreneurs, helping employees onboard and developing leadership, making investments in startups, and helping individuals reskill with AI-driven tools. The announcement also identifies the scientific exploration of AI tools across these settings as an objective of the broader research program.

Alongside coursework, students should expect extended interaction with individuals and university program managers, as well as collaborators and organizations. These include the HEC Incubator, CDL Paris, the University of Utah, Bocconi University, ION Group, startups, firms, and non-profits. Social skills are described as useful for this work. French language skills are not required.

Who Should Apply

This fellowship is suited to applicants interested in doctoral research on mentorship and its relationship to innovation, performance, entrepreneurship, and organizational development. Candidates should be interested in research activities that may involve data collection, theoretical work, experiments, analysis, and collaboration with people and organizations. Applicants need to follow HEC Paris’s regular PhD application process.

Key Highlights

• Research area: economics of mentorship in the Department of Economics and Decision Sciences.
• Start date: September 2027.
• Typical PhD duration: five years.
• Additional funding: €5,000 per year on top of the €26,500 HEC Foundation PhD Research Scholarship, for up to five years.
• French is not required; no application deadline is stated in the announcement.

After successful completion of the doctorate, the announcement describes strong prospects for a scientific career at universities. It cites previous placements of Professors Åstebro and Serrano’s PhD students at the University of Oxford, NYU, IE Business School, NBER/MIT, Bocconi, and Northeastern University. Explore other research fellowship opportunities or browse AI-related opportunities.

For questions about the project, the announcement lists Thomas Åstebro and Carlos Serrano as contacts.