Research Assistant (f/m/x) in a project – Pre-Doc

Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg

Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg

The Chair of Sociology, with special emphasis on Social Inequalities at the University of Bamberg has a vacancy (starting on 1 February 2025 or as soon as possible) for a

Research Assistant (f/m/x) in a project – Pre-Doc

(75% of a regular working week; German public service paygrade TV-L E13)

limited to three years, subject to the allocation of funds by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS).

We are looking for a colleague for the research project “Interactions between health and retirement: Social inequality in the context of an increase in the retirement age (GeReAlt)”, financed by the BMAS as part of the Funding Network for Interdisciplinary Social Policy Research (FIS). The project is a collaboration with the TU Dortmund University, Chair of Social Structure and Sociology of Ageing Societies (Prof. Martina Brandt, Dr. Carolin Kunz).

Based on the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), the project examines the social determinants of retirement as well as changes in health and well-being in different socio-economic groups after retirement. Based on the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the effects of raising the standard retirement age on these relationships are examined. We use advanced methods of causal analysis (including interrupted time series, difference-in-differences models with propensity score matching, and fixed-effects models).

The chair at the University of Bamberg is part of the Institute for Sociology, which, with a total of 16 professorships, is one of the leading sociology institutes in Germany, and cooperates closely with other research institutions, e.g. the Institute for Employment Research (www.uni-bamberg.de/en/sociology). We are looking for a highly motivated young scientist to contribute crucial research to this project. It would also be possible to write a doctoral dissertation as part of the project.

Job description:

•  Theoretical and empirical modelling of the complex relationship between,  among other things, health and retirement
•  Data analysis, i.e. learning and applying statistical methods
• Writing and publishing journal articles 
• Assisting with the everyday tasks of the project, e.g. by communicating with partner institutes or preparing the content of meetings
• Possibility of writing a project-related dissertation

Requirements:

• Very good university degree (Master’s or comparable degree) in sociology, political sciences, statistical sciences, demography, public health, or related subjects
• Prior knowledge of and research interest in social and health inequality and in social and pension policy
• Above-average knowledge of data management and the statistical methods of longitudinal and causal analysis, as well as in writing scientific texts
• Very good computer, software, and English skills (C1) are required. Applicants who do not speak German must also be willing to acquire good German language skills 
• Ability to work in a team, as well as a structured and conscientious approach to work

We offer (among other things):

• The opportunity for project-related analysis of world-class datasets, an extensive interdisciplinary network, and support in achieving your own scientific and professional goals
• Flexible working conditions (in terms of working hours and proportion of remote work), professional equipment, and a pleasant working atmosphere in our team
•  If you do write your (optional) dissertation as part of the project, you will have access not only to the graduate program of the Bamberg Graduate School of Social Sciences (BAGSS) (www.uni-bamberg.de/en/bagss), but also to excellent data, methodological knowledge, and supervision within the project’s network

General information:

The University of Bamberg is committed to increasing the proportion of women in research and teaching, and therefore strongly encourages suitably qualified women to apply. Severely disabled applicants will be given preferential consideration if their qualifications are otherwise essentially equal.

The University of Bamberg has been certified by the Hertie Foundation as a family-friendly university. It is particularly committed to the compatibility of family and working life.

Application:

Please send your application documents in German or English (1-page letter of motivation, CV, relevant certificates) in electronic form (combined into one PDF document) to the following e-mail address: sekretariat.sozungleichheit@uni-bamberg.de.

If you have any research-related questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Rasmus Hoffmann (rasmus.hoffmann@uni-bamberg.de).

Application deadline: 01.12.2024

(Applications will be considered until all documents have been reviewed)