Doctoral Researcher in election data (SDC-35)

About This Opportunity

Our talent team at Get A Job.ai is representing a confidential research institute in Köln, Germany. They are seeking a Doctoral Researcher to join their survey data team, focusing on election data infrastructure and geocoded electoral datasets. This is a 3-year fixed-term position at 75% working time, starting January 1, 2027.

You will work on developing a research data infrastructure that makes sub-national election data more accessible and interoperable for democracy research. This role offers the opportunity to complete a PhD thesis while contributing to methodological advances in electoral data management.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate election data sources with sub-national geographic resolution for integration into the data infrastructure
• Develop and document systematic data ingestion procedures and workflows
• Test and validate framework compatibility, data models, and technical platforms against existing electoral datasets
• Support development of data quality assurance tools and validation procedures
• Conduct methodological or applied research demonstrating the value of the infrastructure for democracy research
• Contribute to scholarly publications and documentation aligned with your doctoral thesis

What We're Looking For

• Master's degree in political science or a closely related social science discipline
• Strong interest in geocoded electoral data, including data collection, harmonization, and management practices
• Training in quantitative empirical methods for social sciences
• Strong proficiency in R statistical software
• Motivation to complete a PhD thesis closely aligned with the project objectives
• Excellent English language skills (written and spoken)
• Interest in comparative political research and geospatial data applications

How We Work With You

Candidates apply directly through Get A Job.ai. Our recruiting team will conduct an initial screening to understand your background and match you with the opportunity. We then submit qualified candidates to our client for their review. Please do not contact the employer directly—all communication flows through our team to ensure a professional, coordinated process.

Pay

Compensation follows German TV-L salary scale, grade 13, at 75% working time. The position includes flexible working hours, mobile working options, childcare subsidies, company health management programs, pension support, and professional development opportunities.

Get A Job.ai is an equal opportunity recruiter. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to building diverse talent pools for our client partners.