Saïd Business School is recruiting for a Research Fellow in Technology and Finance.

 

The rise of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) is a global phenomenon. As of May 2022, among the 81 central banks surveyed by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), about 90 percent were exploring CBDCs, with more than half developing or running pilot projects.1 According to Atlantic Council,2 11 countries (The Bahamas, Jamaica, Nigeria, and eight Eastern Caribbean countries) have formally launched their CBDCs as of October 2022 and more than a dozen countries, including major economies such as China, South Korea, and Sweden, are piloting their CBDCs. If successfully implemented and adopted, CBDCs are expected to have a far-reaching impact throughout society. Potential benefits include a more transparent financial system and cheaper financial services enabled by a simpler system with fewer intermediaries involved. On the other hand, potential risks include privacy and data protection concerns, extended system outages, and the risk of disintermediation of banks.

 

Despite the growing interest in CBDCs, the question of how countries can benefit from CBDCs in reality requires more clarity. Although various possible use cases of CBDCs have been suggested in both retail and wholesale, how countries use their CBDCs and what benefits can be achieved in the near term have not been studied well.

 

This research proposes tackling the ambiguity surrounding CBDCs using an ecosystem lens. The future of CBDCs still remains ambiguous, especially due to their various use cases, diverging interests of key stakeholders, and the potential impact of CBDCs on those stakeholders. Understanding the top use cases and major stakeholders’ interests from an ecosystem perspective would be a key first step in tackling the ambiguity and catalysing implementation.

 

Reporting to and under the direction of Professor Pinar Ozcan, the post holder will be responsible for managing the described research project within the area of ecosystem formation around CBDCs in various geographies.

 

The ideal candidate will hold or be lose to completion of a PhD/ Dphil with proven research experience in the field (e.g. Qualitative research methods, Technology Management, Entrepreneurship/ Strategy in digital markets, or a closely related filed).

 

Further information on this role and how to apply can be found in the job description.

 

What We Offer 

Your happiness and wellbeing at work matters to us, so we offer a range of family friendly and financial benefits including:

 

• Flexible hybrid working

• An excellent contributory pension scheme

• 38 days annual leave

• A comprehensive range of childcare services

• Family leave schemes

• Cycle loan scheme

• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs

• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

 

All applications must include a CV, Cover Letter/ Supporting Statement and Current Salary.

 

For further guidance and support, please visit  https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/how-to-apply.