Job Opportunity

For the research project “Public Attitudes towards the Liberal Script” (PALS) at the Center for Civil Society Research, in collaboration with other research units and the Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)”, the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB) is seeking

one Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (f/m/x)

to be employed full-time (39 hours/week) from October 1, 2026 until December 31, 2028.
The contract is anticipated to run until December 31, 2030 subject to a positive evaluation of the PALS-project.

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 Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)” examines why liberal democracies around the world face growing pressure and what strengthens their resilience. Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) under the German Excellence Strategy since 2019, SCRIPTS is hosted by Freie Universität Berlin partners with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Hertie School, the WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS), and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).

The first phase of the Public Attitudes towards the Liberal Script (PALS) survey provided the most comprehensive picture to date of global support for and opposition to the liberal script. Conducted in 30 countries with approximately 60,000 respondents, the PALS survey identified systematic differences in citizens' attitudes toward core liberal principles and revealed both cross-national and structural patterns in their underlying determinants. The team at the WZB, led by Macartan Humphreys, Swen Hutter, Pola Lehmann, Yasemin Soysal, and Michael Zürn, is currently preparing for the next phase with four interrelated ambitions: tracking continuity and change in global attitudes toward the liberal script, linking individual orientations to collective mobilization and resilience, consolidating knowledge generated within SCRIPTS, and deepening collaboration with international partners. The successful candidate will play a central role in making this happen — leading the design, coordination, and implementation of the survey in close collaboration with cluster researchers, international partners, and external survey institutes.

Your Responsibilities

Conception and further development of a large-scale social science survey (e.g., panel design)
Coordination of the entire survey process, including questionnaire development, pretests, and quality control
Collaboration and coordination with external survey institutes
Data management: processing, documentation, weighting, and quality assurance
Independent quantitative analyses and publication in international peer-reviewed journals
Presentation of results at conferences and in internal cluster formats
Collaboration with research groups and sub-projects within the Excellence Cluster
Supervision of student assistants and participation in third-party funding applications

Your Profile

Completed doctorate in political science, sociology, or related social science disciplines
Strong expertise in quantitative methods and survey methodology
Experience with large-scale surveys (panel or representative population studies)
Proficient in statistical software (R, Stata, or Python)
Experience in questionnaire development and pretesting
Organizational skills and project management experience
Excellent English skills; German language skills an advantage but not essential
Demonstrated publication record in international peer-reviewed journals

Our offer

Remuneration in accordance with EG 13 TVöD Bund
Additional benefits for public service employees (VBL U)
Advice and support regarding visa and residence permit
A well-equipped workplace in the center of Berlin
International, cooperative, and diversified working environment
In-depth integration into the scientific community in the form of colloquiums and conferences
Thorough instruction and guidance
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
Reduced monthly ticket for local public transport (Jobticket or Deutschlandticket Job)
Discounted leisure and recreation opportunities with a membership in Sozialwerk.Bund
Counselling and support services for WZB employees in difficult life situations

We value diversity and welcome all applications – irrespective of gender, nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation. WZB expressly encourages women or persons with migration backgrounds to apply. Equally qualified applicants with disabilities will be given preference.

The selection is done according to the SCRIPTS Diversity Rules & Guidelines: https://www.scripts-berlin.eu/about-us/Diversity/Diversity_Rules_Guidelines/index.html

If you have any questions regarding the job opening, please contact Iryna Mazynska and Müge Yerdenler, the Center’s office (+49 30 25491 303)

Job interviews will likely take place on July 16-17, 2026.

For more information about the Center for Civil Society Research, see https://www.wzb.eu/de/forschung/wandel-politischer-systeme/zentrum-fuer-zivilgesellschaftsforschung.

For more information about the results of PALS, see https://www.scripts-berlin.eu/research/pals/index.html.

For more information about WZB, see www.wzb.eu.

Have we caught your interest? In that case, we are looking forward to receiving your application via our online application tool by June 21, 2026.

Apply now