Job Opportunity
The Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung gGmbH (WZB Berlin Social Science Center), research department Institutions and Political Inequality IPI (Director: Professor Macartan Humphreys) seeks to hireA Predoctoral Research Fellow (f/m/x) (ID 303)
with a contract duration of three years. The expected start date is flexible: earliest start date is 1 April, 2025, latest 1 September, 2025. The appointment is made at 75% of the regular working hours (currently 29,25 hours/week).
The WZB Berlin Social Science Center is a publicly financed research institution that conducts leading edge theory-based and problem-oriented social science research (http://www.wzb.eu/en). WZB researchers come from across the globe and work across social science disciplines including sociology, political science, economics, law, and psychology. A member of the Leibniz Association, WZB’s research is directed at the science community, policy makers, the media and the general public.
The research department Institutions and Political Inequality (IPI) uses observational and experimental methods to study major problems related to political inequality, intergroup conflict, and international development. We expect the thematic focus for this position to be on political violence and open to a candidate working either on empirical analyses, formal theory, or both. There is special interest in the groups on the logic and legacies of violence between identity groups. The accepted person will be expected to join a PhD cohort at Humboldt University.
The research department Institutions and Political Inequality (IPI) uses observational and experimental methods to study major problems related to political inequality, intergroup conflict, and international development. We expect the thematic focus for this position to be on political violence and open to a candidate working either on empirical analyses, formal theory, or both. There is special interest in the groups on the logic and legacies of violence between identity groups. The accepted person will be expected to join a PhD cohort at Humboldt University.
Beyond your dissertational research, your tasks and duties will include:
- Conducting research on projects in the department
- Conducting statistical analysis
- Developing new instruments for data collecting
- Initiating new research projects
Your qualification and profile will likely include:
- Completed master degree in a social science discipline or statistics
- Very good statistical skills including competence in R and/or STATA
- Excellent English writing and communication skills (English is the working language of the department)
- Preferably field work experience
Our offer:
- Remuneration in accordance with EG 13 TVöD Bund (German public service collective agreement)
- Additional benefits for public service employees (VBL U)
- A well-equipped workplace in the center of Berlin
- Active support by research assistants, travel funding and access to small and medium-scale research funds for data collection, as well as opportunities to invite external collaborators and speakers
- International, cooperative, and diversified working environment
- In-depth integration into the scientific community through participation in colloquiums and conferences
- Flexible working hours and the possibility of mobile working (at least 20% of the weekly working hours agreed in the contract)
- We promote a good work-life balance
- Comprehensive program for continuous professional development and further qualification, in the own discipline and beyond
- Cafeteria with modern recreation rooms
- Discounted VBB (Berlin public transport) company ticket
Application procedure:
Candidates are requested to submit the following documents (all in English) in a single PDF-file via the WZB application portal:
- Cover letter outlining career goals, research interests including possible topics of interest, statistical skills, experience supporting social scientific research, and names for up to three letter writers that could support your application
- Writing sample
- CV
- Please ask one writer to send a reference letter directly to application-ipi@wzb.eu with “[your last name] IPI predoc reference letter” in the subject line and advise other writers that letters might be requested in case of shortlisting.
We will evaluate all complete applications received by (and including) 12 January, 2025.
Job interviews will likely take place in early February 2025.If you have any questions regarding this job opening, please contact application-ipi@wzb.eu.
Have we caught your interest? In that case, we are looking forward to receiving your application via our online application tool by January 12th, 2025.
More information about the WZB can be found at http://www.wzb.eu/en and about the IPI research group IPI here.
