
ALAIKA · München
We are looking for Fellows starting in April 2027 for 3 to 6 months. Advise. Invest. Build. Meet ALAIKA — a new kind of Financial Services firm — globally sca...
We are looking for Fellows starting in April 2027 for 3 to 6 months.
Advise. Invest. Build. Meet ALAIKA — a new kind of Financial Services firm — globally scaling, headquartered in Munich. The work
is hard. The bar is high. Convince during your Fellowship and earn the opportunity to join ALAIKA full-time after graduation, with
partner-track ambition from day one.
execute.
Ship solutions.
At ALAIKA, our vision is to build the future of Financial Services with three brands under one roof — Advisory (Strategy
Consulting), Capital (Private Equity), Building (Company Builder). Right now, we are in the midst of building our trojan horse
ALAIKA Advisory.
The ambition: building the leading Financial-Services-specific entrepreneurial holding — Fortune 500 access, PE discipline,
Silicon Valley technology-depth and thinking. Three networks that compound and multiply.
Cybersecurity.
build into that.
Founded in October 2022 by Johanna von Geyr (build-up and led Financial Services Practice for a NASDAQ-listed strategy
consultancy) and Harald Braunstein (serial entrepreneur with exits incl. IPO), we bring together deep functional domain expertise
and networks in global Financial Services, with a proven track record in building, scaling, and investing in leading software
product companies.
Curious what ALAIKA is all about? Explore our website and introduction deck.
Join the movement — apply now.
across Strategy, Data & AI, and Cyber. In the room with decision-makers from day one.
of all levels, receive close coaching, and learn how high-stakes advisory work is done in practice.
work; you co-build the firm. That is not a slogan — it is your Tuesday.
“Show me an athlete who did well academically. An athlete because they know what it takes to win and they have had to experience
loss.”
— Kenneth C. Griffin, Founder of Citadel
You will work alongside intrinsically driven people chasing an uncapped career — people who do "what it takes". You fear "being
one more number stuck in middle management".
Your goal is to make it to the top: at ALAIKA itself, at a leading investment or financial services firm, or in a company you
build yourself — ALAIKA can help with that too.
normally reserved for far more senior profiles.
Physics, Finance, or equivalent rigour. Minimum 4th Bachelor semester.
consultancy, PE/VC-backed company, fast-growing tech, or demanding corporate financial services role. Hands-on Data & AI
experience, as well as financial services experience, is a plus.
day one.
investors building tomorrow’s.
Plus: the essentials done right — EGYM Wellpass, bike leasing, a kitchen stocked with healthy food and team events worth showing
up for: Oktoberfest, team dinners, and more.
Advise the leaders. Build what comes next.
Invest in the future of Financial Services.
Apply with CV, transcripts, and references. Let’s see if you are the one.
Equal Opportunities for all
ALAIKA is an equal-opportunity employer. We hire on merit and welcome applications from people of all genders, backgrounds, ages,
and identities. Our team spirit celebrates diversity. We want you to be your true “you” and offer everyone an open culture and
safe space
At ALAIKA, we are building the future of Financial Services with a bold vision: to become the most specialized Enterprise Financial Services advisory & investment firm in the industry by coupling Fortune 500 board room access, the deepest Financial Services domain expertise with a global Venture Capital & Private Equity network. Through our three brands — ALAIKA Advisory (Strategy Consulting), ALAIKA Capital (Investment Company) and ALAIKA Building (Company Builder), — we are building the Financial Services holding company of the future. Founded in October 2022 by Johanna von Geyr (the Financial Services Practice Lead Partner of a leading NASDAQ listed strategy consultancy) and Harald Braunstein (builder/investor of multiple leading international software companies) & an all-star team, we bring together the best of both worlds: deep functional domain expertise and networks in global Financial Services, along with a proven track record in how to build and invest in leading software product companies. One team one dream: This all begins by bringing together the very best people for the job, which is exactly what we do at ALAIKA and why we might need you! Join our team of experts at ALAIKA Advisory and play a pivotal role in “Building the Future of Financial Services” and contribute to our three core domains: Strategic Transformations, AI/Data Analytics & Cybersecurity. Join the movement — apply now! What you will do: * Be the Right Hand: Work closely with the founding and HR-team in their day-to-day operations, ensuring smooth functioning and gaining deep insights into decision-making and startup building processes. * Actively support the development of our team: Contribute to both strategic and operational tasks related to founding and scaling the organization. * Organize and manage team events that strengthen team culture and collaboration. Your creativity and organizational skills will help foster a positive and inclusive work environment where team spirit thrives. * Learning by Doing at the “ALAIKA School”: Engage with professionals across departments, absorbing valuable knowledge, insights, and best practices from within our organisation. * Grow & Take Over Responsibility: Apply and develop your analytical, interpersonal, creative thinking, technology, and business management skills from day one. Take on increasing responsibility, contributing to both client projects and at least one internal initiative. Your Profile: * Educational Background: You're currently pursuing studies in Business Management, Administration, or related fields at university (minimum 3. Bachelor-Semester). * Relevant Experience: You bring previous experience as an intern or working student ideally in a high-paced environment such as a top (VC-backed) startup, fast-growing company, top strategy consulting, or investment banking/venture. * Languages: Fluent in both written and spoken German and English. * Curiosity & Adaptability: A strong desire to learn more about office management, finance, and organisational support. * Entrepreneurial Spirit: Proactive, takes ownership, and prefers to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. * Dedication & Drive: You're motivated, organised, and committed to ensuring the smooth running of an office. Your consistency is evident in your work. * Analytical Skills: Strong analytical skills, with the ability to leverage data to drive informed decision-making and optimize processes. * Communication Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners. What’s in it for you: Our employees are our most precious asset, and we are committed to providing a unique employee experience. We offer multiple opportunities to create your path and build a global career at the highest levels following your interests. * Competitive Rewards: Benefit from a highly competitive salary and attractive bonus structure, allowing you to directly benefit from our collective success. * Collaborate With Industry Leaders: Leverage extensive connections within the Financial Services sector spanning from Fortune500 Financial Services executives over Private Equity to successful startup founders to enhance your skills and expand your professional network. * Unmatched Growth Potential: Immerse yourself in an exhilarating start-up atmosphere where rapid personal and professional growth is not just encouraged but guaranteed and expected. * Health and Wellbeing: Your health and fitness matter to us. We provide a premium EGYM Wellpass membership with access to 10,000+ sports and wellness offerings, both locally and online. * Company Events: Dive into our culture with exceptional team-building activities, from Oktoberfest celebrations and Floßfahrt adventures on the Isar to festive Christmas parties, regular dinners and lunches, and much more. * Modern Working Environment: State-of-the-art offices in Munich Werksviertel, Frankfurt am Main and Barcelona, more to come ;) Are you excited about advising clients, building innovative solutions, and investing in the global Financial Services industry? We look forward to receiving your application including CV, transcripts & references. Equal Opportunities for all ALAIKA is an equal-opportunity employer. We hire on merit and welcome applications from people of all genders, backgrounds, ages, and identities. Our team spirit celebrates diversity. We want you to be your true “you” and offer everyone an open culture and safe space
About the position We are offering one PhD position with specialisation in either comparative politics, or political data science. The successful applicant(s) will be part of the research project “Authoritarian Threats to Scientific Knowledge” (AutoKnow), which is funded by the European Research Council. The PhD fellowship period is three years and devoted to carrying out research and pursuing a PhD in the context of the AutoKnow project. The position may also include other career-enhancing activities: depending on the candidate’s competence and the teaching needs of the department, the fellowship period can be extended up to four years for qualification work consisting of e.g. teaching duties. The primary aims of AutoKnow are to investigate how the production of scientific knowledge is affected by authoritarian regimes and politics. The project will look at how authoritarian rule affects the contents and research trajectories of scientific fields, and which fields are targeted for repression and co-optation by authoritarian rulers and movements. It will use computational text analysis to measure content-dimensions of published science and collect different data on attacks on academic freedom. It will study how authoritarian rule affects scientific progress, topic choice, political bias, idea novelty and other dimensions. It will answer questions such as: • Which academic fields and institutions are repressed and which are supported by authoritarian leaders? • How does authoritarian rule shape the contents and political profile of academic work in different fields? • What is the impact of authoritarian rule on scientific progress? The PhD Fellow is expected to develop a research project within the overarching thematic scope of the larger project, namely authoritarian threats to science. While the PhD project should align with the framework of the main project, the candidate has significant flexibility to pursue their own approach and research agenda. The project proposal should above all include a tentative overall thematic and theoretical framework, along with at least three ideas for academic articles (see below). The Fellow will be expected to contribute to data collection and measurement, and data analysis. The successful candidate will be part of the Faculty’s PhD programme. The work is expected to lead to a PhD in political science. To promote a strategic career path, all PhD fellows are expected to submit a career development plan, specifying career goals and the competencies that the PhD fellow should acquire, no later than one month after commencement of the fellowship period. The department is responsible for ensuring that the plan is followed up and that the PhD fellow has access to career guidance throughout the duration of the fellowship. Qualification requirements Formal qualifications • Education equivalent to five years at university level in Norway, with two years (120 credits) at Master’s level in a relevant field. The MA thesis must be equivalent to at least half a year’s workload, i.e. 30 ECTS. • The Master’s degree must include relevant education in research methods or game theory. Other qualifications • Applicants must have a very good to excellent command of English (written and oral). • Applicants must be well-trained in conducting quantitative analyses. • Experience with large language models, machine learning, and/or programming in R or equivalent programs is an advantage but not a requirement. The evaluation of applicants primarily hinges on their documented academic qualifications and the research proposal. During the initial screening phase, a strong emphasis is placed on formal qualifications and academic grades, where top-tier grades and a highly commendable MA thesis are generally prerequisites for shortlisting. In the subsequent phase, the importance of the research proposal increases significantly. Additionally, factors such as academic suitability, motivation, and alignment with the project team are considered. We need different perspectives in our work UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no. We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues — could you be the next one? We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures. The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds. If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian). The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports. More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here. We offer • Salary according to “SKO 1017 PhD fellow”, NOK 550 800 - 595 000 per year. • Personal research funds that can be used for e.g. travel and research assistance (currently NOK 35 000 per year). • A stimulating and international research environment with multiple research groups and seminar series. • Involvement in a large research project that provides opportunities to build a network with scholars researching political elites around the world, including an annual workshop on the topic. • A friendly and inclusive workplace allowing for a good work-life balance. • Attractive UiO welfare benefits • Access to Norway’s excellent public services and welfare schemes, including generous parental leave provisions and affordable and accessible childcare (including the University’s kindergarten). • Norway’s capital with its easy access to beautiful nature and rich cultural life. • Introduction course for PhD Fellows: Teaching as a PhD candidate • Annual career development conversation based on the submitted career plan. • Various courses and workshops supporting career development (e.g., on dissemination and presentation skills, op-ed writing, and stress-management). • Financial and practical support for international staff moving to Norway (https://www.uio.no/english/about/jobs/ismo/) (international staff may also benefit from tax cuts in their first years) How to apply How to apply The application with attachments must be submitted in our electronic recruiting system. Please follow the link “apply for this job”. The online application must include the following items, which are to be submitted before the deadline (all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language): • A cover letter (maximum two pages), including a statement of motivation • A research proposal (maximum 3,000 words including references - a word count must be provided on the front page). The proposal should clarify the research theme, main research questions, how the research contributes to existing literature and the project, theoretical approach, methodology, article ideas, and a timeline. A final research proposal must be developed in cooperation with the project leader within three months of the start date. • A CV summarizing education, positions, research and pedagogical experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activities. Career breaks, including parental leave, that are noted in the CV will be taken into consideration when evaluating applicants' academic record. • Copy of Master’s thesis (in English or in a Scandinavian language). • Copies of transcripts: All applicants must submit their Master’s degree diploma and transcript(s), preferably together with a class distribution of grades. The transcript must specify the grade achieved for the Master’s thesis. • Official explanation of the grading and credit system at your university (foreign applicants). • Names and contact details for 2-3 reference persons (name, relationship to candidate, e-mail, and phone number). Reference letters are not needed. The application deadline is September 1, 2026. The screening and evaluation of candidates will begin immediately. The most promising candidates will be invited for interviews. We expect the whole evaluation process, from the application date to an offer being made, to take 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the number of applications. The expected start date is January 2027 or earlier but is subject to negotiation. Formal regulations Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us. Please see the regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of postdoctoral research fellow, research fellow, research assistant and resident - University of Oslo (uio.no) (https://www.uio.no/english/about/regulations/personnel/academic/regulations-employment-conditions-postdoc.html) Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo. The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.
About the position We are offering one PhD position with specialisation in either comparative politics, political data science, or public administration. The successful applicant will be part of the research project “Waging of War” (WOW), which is funded by the European Research Council. The PhD fellowship period is three years and devoted to carrying out research and pursuing a PhD in the context of the WOW project. The position may also include other career-enhancing activities: depending on the candidate’s competence and the teaching needs of the department, the fellowship period can be extended up to four years for qualification work consisting of e.g. teaching duties. The primary aims of WOW are to investigate how the organization of warring parties influences the conduct of war, and conversely, how the fighting impacts the organizational structure of the belligerents. WOW will theorize, identify, classify, and code the characteristics of state military organizations and non-state armed groups and collect data relating to the dynamics of warfare. We will answer questions such as: • How are wars fought? • How does the organization of a belligerent party affect the way they wage war? • How do the dynamics of the war affect the organization of the fighting parties? More information about the project can be found here: https://www.sv.uio.no/isv/english/research/projects/wow/index.html The PhD Fellow is expected to develop a research project within the overarching thematic scope of the larger project, namely the organizational basis and conduct of warfare. While the PhD project should align with the framework of the main project, the candidate has significant flexibility to pursue their own approach and research agenda. The project proposal should above all include a tentative overall thematic and theoretical framework, along with at least three ideas for academic articles (see below). The successful candidate will be part of the Faculty’s PhD programme. The work is expected to lead to a PhD in political science. To promote a strategic career path, all PhD fellows are expected to submit a career development plan, specifying career goals and the competencies that the PhD fellow should acquire, no later than one month after commencement of the fellowship period. The department is responsible for ensuring that the plan is followed up and that the PhD fellow has access to career guidance throughout the duration of the fellowship. Qualification requirements Formal qualifications • Education equivalent to five years at university level in Norway, with two years (120 credits) at Master’s level in a relevant field. The MA thesis must be equivalent to at least half a year’s workload, i.e. 30 ECTS. • The Master’s degree must include relevant education in research methods or game theory. Other qualifications • Applicants must have a very good to excellent command of English (written and oral). • Language skills in other widely spoken languages, such as Arabic, French, Hindi, Mandarin, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili are an advantage, but not a requirement. • Applicants are required to possess robust empirical research knowledge within the realm of conflict research, and they must be well-trained in conducting either quantitative analyses or game theoretic analysis. • Experience with large language models, machine learning, and/or programming in R or equivalent programs is an advantage but not a requirement. The evaluation of applicants primarily hinges on their documented academic qualifications and the research proposal. During the initial screening phase, a strong emphasis is placed on formal qualifications and academic grades, where top-tier grades and a highly commendable MA thesis are generally prerequisites for shortlisting. In the subsequent phase, the importance of the research proposal increases significantly. Additionally, factors such as academic suitability, motivation, and alignment with the project team are considered. We need different perspectives in our work UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no. We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues — could you be the next one? We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures. The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds. If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian). The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports. More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here. We offer • Salary according to “SKO 1017 PhD fellow”, NOK 550 800-595 000 per year. • Personal research funds that can be used for e.g. travel and research assistance (currently NOK 35 000 per year). • A stimulating and international research environment with multiple research groups and seminar series. • Involvement in a large research project that provides opportunities to build a network with scholars researching political elites around the world, including an annual workshop on the topic. • A friendly and inclusive workplace allowing for a good work-life balance. • Attractive UiO welfare benefits • Access to Norway’s excellent public services and welfare schemes, including generous parental leave provisions and affordable and accessible childcare (including the University’s kindergarten). • Norway’s capital with its easy access to beautiful nature and rich cultural life. • Introduction course for PhD Fellows: Teaching as a PhD candidate • Annual career development conversation based on the submitted career plan. • Various courses and workshops supporting career development (e.g., on dissemination and presentation skills, op-ed writing, and stress-management). • Financial and practical support for international staff moving to Norway (https://www.uio.no/english/about/jobs/ismo/) (international staff may also benefit from tax cuts in their first years) How to apply The application with attachments must be submitted in our electronic recruiting system. Please follow the link “apply for this job”. The online application must include the following items, which are to be submitted before the deadline (all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language): • A cover letter (maximum 2 pages), including a statement of motivation • A research proposal (maximum 3,000 words including all references and footnotes - a word count must be provided on the front page). The proposal should clarify the research theme, main research questions, how the research contributes to existing literature and the project, theoretical approach, methodology, article ideas, and a timeline. A final research proposal must be developed in cooperation with the project leader within three months of the start date. • A CV summarizing education, positions, research and pedagogical experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activities. Career breaks, including parental leave, that are noted in the CV will be taken into consideration when evaluating applicants' academic record. • Copy of Master’s thesis (in English or in a Scandinavian language). • Copies of transcripts: All applicants must submit their Master’s degree diploma and transcript(s), preferably together with a class distribution of grades. The transcript must specify the grade achieved for the Master’s thesis. • Official explanation of the grading and credit system at your university (foreign applicants). • Names and contact details for 2-3 reference persons (name, relationship to candidate, e-mail, and phone number). Reference letters are not needed. The application deadline is September 1, 2026. The screening and evaluation of candidates will begin immediately. The most promising candidates will be invited for interviews. We expect the whole evaluation process, from the application date to an offer being made, to take 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the number of applications. The expected start date is January 2027 or earlier but is subject to negotiation. Formal regulations Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us. Please see the regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of postdoctoral research fellow, research fellow, research assistant and resident - University of Oslo (uio.no) (https://www.uio.no/english/about/regulations/personnel/academic/regulations-employment-conditions-postdoc.html) Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo. The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.