Student Research Assistant, Team Digital Society Observatory (SHK-CSS-35)
Working_student part-time 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 January 15, 2026 our Department Computational Social Science (CSS), Team Digital Society Observatory located in Cologne, is looking for a
Student Research Assistant
(13,98 € / 14,87 € hourly rate, 18 hrs./ week, temporary)
The department Computational Social Science (CSS) collects digital behavioral data and provides computer-based methods for collecting and analyzing such data for social science research. It also supports scientists with the integration of digital behavioral data into their research designs. The department's research focuses on the quality of digital behavioral data, the development and validation of computational social science methods and the transformation of digital societies.
The services and research of the Team Digital Society Observatory focus on the observation of society through the lens of digital behavioral data, with a particular emphasis on data collected from online platforms. The team conducts substantive and methodological research on digital society and the tools that can be used to study it.
Your tasks will be:
- Supporting the team in research activities
- Support the team with data collection and preparation tasks
- Conduct data analysis tasks
- Conduct literature reviews on various topics
- Support events (e.g., conferences, GESIS seminars)
Your profile:
- Advanced or completed Bachelor’s degree, or enrollment in a Master’s program in Computer Science, Communication Science, Political Science, Computational Social Science, or related fields
- Interest in scientific work
- First experiences in data analysis
- You have some programming experience (e.g., in Python / R)
- Good command of the English language, written and spoken
Our Benefits:
- You can get hands-on experience in participating in research activities
- Working in a team with senior researchers
- Flexible working hours and regulations for mobile working
- Very good conditions for reconciling work and family life
- Holistic company health management and discounted participation in the university's sports programme
- Promotion of your skills through further training measures
Contact
For further information concerning the tasks please contact Felix Beck-Soldner via E-Mail felix.soldner@gesis.org. If you have questions about the application process, please contact Franca Tosetti via E-Mail franca.tosetti@gesis.org.
Interested?
Please apply via our Online-application portal until 21.11.2025.
Our reference number is:SHK-CSS-35
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.
