PhD Position on Anti-Money Laundering regulation in Latin America (m/w/d)
Universität St. Gallen
St.Gallen
Key information
- Publication date:20 November 2025
- Workload:100%
- Place of work:St.Gallen
Job summary
REGULA explores illegal markets and tech misuse in Latin America. Join us for a unique research opportunity!
Tasks
- Conduct original research on illicit financial transactions in Latin America.
- Examine public agency interactions in anti-money laundering efforts.
- Assess the adaptation of international AML standards to innovations.
Skills
- Master's in Political Science, Economics, Sociology, or related field.
- Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills required.
- Excellent English, proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese preferred.
Is this helpful?
REGULA is an interdisciplinary project combining public policy, legal studies, and sociology to examine illegal markets and the misuse of services offered by tech companies and financial intermediaries in Latin America. REGULA is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) and co-directed by Prof. Matias Dewey, Prof. Roy Gava, and Prof. Mariana Valente.
The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Prof. Roy Gava and will be enrolled in the Ph.D. program in International Affairs and Political Economy (DIA) at the University of St. Gallen.
Please submit your application with the following documents:
- A cover letter (max. 2 pages) detailing your research interests, motivation for joining this project, and how your background aligns with the position.
- A CV highlighting your education, research experience, and relevant skills.
- A writing sample (e.g. Master's thesis or seminar papers).
- Copies of your grade transcripts (Bachelor's and Master's) and certificates.
Application Deadline: The review of applications will begin on December 8th and continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
For further inquiry, please contact Roy Gava at E-Mail schreiben
Your tasks
We are inviting applications for a fully funded 4-year PhD Position in the context of the SNF-funded Project "Illegal transactions in the digital age: emerging practices and regulatory intermediaries in Latin America” (REGULA).
- Design and conduct original doctoral research on policies for the prevention of illicit financial transactions, with an empirical focus on Latin America.
- Examine the interaction of public agencies (e.g., financial supervisors, Financial Intelligence Units) and firms (e.g., banks, fintech challengers, crypto-exchanges) in the anti-money laundering (AML) regime.
- Assess international standards (FATF) and national AML regulations' adaptation to financial innovation (e.g., mobile payments, cryptocurrencies).
- Participate in the design, collection, and analysis of cross-national surveys.
- Collaborate with the team in writing and publishing papers in scientific journals.
- Participate in and help organize workshops, conferences, and presentations to disseminate research findings.
The position is based in St.Gallen, Switzerland, and requires regular presence at the department.
Your profile
- Master's degree in Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations, or a closely related field.
- Curiosity about illegal markets and business compliance.
- Interest in digital payments and financial inclusion in emerging economies.
- Proven skills in quantitative and/or qualitative research methods.
- Strong data management skills.
- Excellent written and spoken English, with a good command of Spanish or Portuguese.
"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 3'500 researchers, educators and professional staff.
