Research Associate in Questionnaire Development (PhD Candidate)
Temporary part-time Mannheim, Köln
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GESIS – Leibniz-Institute for the Social Sciences is an internationally active research institute, funded by federal and state governments and member of the Leibniz Association.
Starting on 01.09.2025 our Department Data and Research on Society, Team Family Surveys located in Mannheim or Cologne, is looking for a
Research Associate in Questionnaire Development (PhD Candidate)
(Salary group 13 TV-L, working time 75 %, limited to 4 years)
Monitoring current social developments is a primary objective of the social sciences. The department Data and Research on Society supports the social sciences in this task, by providing comprehensive data and tools to describe and analyse social changes. In close cooperation with the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB), we conduct FReDA – a data infrastructure for family research. FReDA is designed as a panel study including anchors and their partners who are interviewed in self-administered modes. The BiB/FReDA study “Refugees from Ukraine in Germany” is also conducted as part of FReDA.
Your tasks will be:
- Creation and conceptualization of survey materials for the FReDA panel (esp. programming questionnaires)
- Support in implementing the FReDA panel (esp. survey data quality control)
- Coordination with national project partners
- Writing a PhD thesis in survey methodology or family sociology based on FReDA data
Your profile:
- Very good master’s degree in survey methodology, data science, sociology, psychology, or another social science subject
- Very good knowledge of quantitative research methods
- First experiences with the analysis of survey data and the implementation of survey projects is an advantage
- Very good knowledge of German and English (spoken and written)
Our Benefits:
- Practical experience with data collection in the context of FReDA as a scientifically, socially, and politically highly relevant data infrastructure
- A motivating work environment in a friendly and collegial atmosphere, as well as excellent team collaboration
- Flexible working hours and the possibility of up to 60% mobile working within Germany
- Very good conditions for reconciling work and family life, e.g. subsidies for childcare for children who have not yet attained the age of compulsory schooling
- Holistic company health management and discounted participation in the university's sports programme
- Generous support for your pension provision as a direct insurance policy
- Promotion of your skills through further training measures
Contact
For further information concerning the tasks please contact Prof. Dr. Tobias Gummer via E-Mail (
Interested?
Please apply via our Online-application portal until 24.07.2025.
Our reference number is: DRS-43
About us
GESIS is one of the world's leading social science infrastructure facilities, supporting researchers at all levels of their research projects with expertise and infrastructure services. We help ensure that socially relevant questions can be answered based on reliable data, the latest scientific methods and research information. We help with study planning and data collection, provide high-quality research data, support with data preparation and analysis, and finally with data archiving.
GESIS helps you gain further qualifications. We offer our employees a wide range of career opportunities in an appealing work environment with a high degree of personal responsibility and creative freedom. With us, you will work in an international environment in the heart of Mannheim and Cologne and benefit from a flexible work environment as well as internal and external networks.
GESIS ensures compliance with the guidelines for the severely disabled and promotes professional equality between women and men. Full-time positions can also be filled on a part-time basis.
As a family-friendly employer, we have been certified by the “berufundfamilie” audit since 2010.
Further information on working at GESIS can be found here.
