Research Associate (PhD Candidate) for International Value Studies (VALDEMCRIS Project) (DRS-55)

Research Associate (PhD Candidate) for International Value Studies (VALDEMCRIS Project)

(Salary group 13 TV-L, working time 75 %, limited for three 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.

The position is part of the DFG Project “Value Shifts and Cultural Polarization in the Poly-Crisis Era: Post-Industrial Democracies and the German Case” (VALDEMCRIS). In the first year of the project the German data for the European Value Study (EVS) and the World Value Survey (WVS) will be collected and processed. In the remaining project period, these data will be analysed alongside existing international data, in order to develop and test hypotheses related to the societal consequences of the worldwide poly-crisis Era. The project is implemented in cooperation with Leuphana University Lüneburg (Prof. Dr. Christian Welzel).

• Implementation of the data collection for the international survey programs European Value Study (EVS) and World Value Survey (WVS) in Germany, coordinating closely with internal and external partners as well as with service providers 
• Implementation of the translation of the source questionnaires and further documents into German
• Data processing and quality control throughout and after the data collection phase, as well as the preparation of comprehensive study documentation 
• Analysis and interpretation of the data to explore societal value-change and cultural polarization in democracies
• Research with the European Value Study and World Value Survey data 

• Very good master’s degree or equivalent degree in sociology, political sciences, survey methodology, or related fields
• Practical experience in the implementation and data processing of large social-scientific surveys is an advantage
• Advanced skills in empirical social sciences and in quantitative methods of data analysis, including mastery of at least one statistical software (Stata, R)
• Substantive interest in comparative and value research
• Very good fluency in German and English, both written and spoken

• Practical experience in the different stages of implementation of two large-scale international social surveys (Survey preparation and implementation, data management and preparation, international network)
• An attractive, friendly and cooperative work-environment 
• Flexible working hours and regulations for mobile working
• 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

For further information concerning the tasks please contact Oshrat Hochman, PhD via E-Mail (oshrat.hochman@gesis.org). If you have questions about the application process, please contact Franca Tosetti via E-Mail (franca.tosetti@gesis.org).