3 research associates in social science (m/w/d)

Founded in 2017, the Weizenbaum Institute researches the effects of advancing digitalisation on our society. With its recommendations for action, it helps to ensure that the digital transformation is sustainable, self-determined and responsible. The Weizenbaum Institute is supported by a network of seven partners, including Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin University of the Arts, the University of Potsdam, the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems (FOKUS) and the Social Science Research Centre Berlin (WZB). The institute is financed by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and the state of Berlin. It is located in Berlin.

For our third-party-funded research group “Local Digital Public Spheres” at the Weizenbaum-Institut e.V. we are looking, at the earliest possible date, for 3 research associates in social science (m/w/d) with 29.25 hours per week (75%). The position is initially limited until 31 December 2028. Further employment up to a total duration of four years will be sought and is dependent on further funding approval.

The Team

The junior research group “Local Digital Public Spheres” is funded as part of the German Research Foundation’s (DFG) Emmy Noether program. It investigates how contemporary local public spheres are formed under conditions of digitalization and globalization, as local issues and events often gain national or even international attention. The project investigates digital discourses on places which have gained public notoriety in the fields of (a) illiberalism and backlash against plural societies and (b) industrial transformations and environmental concerns. It further investigates how residents respond to such public attention and organize around these issues locally. The group employs a mixed-methods design of computational (text-as-data, network analysis) and qualitative approaches (interviews, ethnographic field work) to investigate six local digital public spheres in three countries (Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom). Based on this empirical data, it will develop a theory of the spatial dimension of digital public spheres. You can take a closer look at the team and their work here.

Your tasks

• Conceptualization and execution of a doctoral dissertation in the research group’s fields of study (e.g., local public spheres, political discourses, mobilization and protest, local communities and social cohesion) and utilizing project data
• Conducting qualitative and/or mixed-methods fieldwork for one of the three countries of study (Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom), including qualitative interviews with local stakeholders and citizens
• Working with the team of two other PhD students and the research group leader on cross-case analyses and theory building in the field of study
• Regular publication and presentation of research results at national and international conferences and workshops
• Organization of events and activities for the research community and the broader public
• Participation in the events and program of the Weizenbaum Institute and - as an associated member - of the Collaborative Research Center 1265 “Re-Figuration of Spaces”

Your profile

• Master’s degree in the social sciences (e.g., communication studies, sociology, political science, human geography), area studies, or a related field
• Very good knowledge of qualitative research methodologies and willingness to conduct fieldwork
• Excellent proficiency in the national language of the case study you intend to work on (i.e., Polish, German, or English) and very good understanding of the respective political and cultural context
• Interest in interdisciplinary social scientific research, particularly in the areas of public spheres, digital transformations of society, and/or spatial theory
• Basic knowledge of quantitative and/or computational methodologies and interest in developing mixed-methods approaches to the analysis of local digital public spheres
• Excellent English skills and very good communication, presentation, and academic writing skills
• Enjoy working in a team

Your chance

• Exciting tasks: Work in a committed, innovative, and scientific environment
• Optimal conditions: Compensation depending on qualifications up to EG 13 (TVöD Bund), including annual bonus, company pension plan, and subsidy for the Deutschlandticket
• Work-life balance: We offer mobile working, flexible working hours, and 30 days of vacation per year (based on a 5-day week), plus paid time off on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
• Central location: Work in the center of Berlin
• Personal development: Regular professional development opportunities

Severely disabled applicants with equal qualifications will be given preference. We value diversity and welcome all applications - regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion, disability, age and sexual orientation. The Weizenbaum Institute expressly encourages women and people with a history of migration to apply.

Please submit your application, consisting of a motivation letter, your curriculum vitae (including a list of publications, conference presentations, or other academic activities, if applicable), university degree and other relevant certificates, and a writing sample (e.g., a student paper or master’s thesis) in English or German addressed to Dr. Daniela Stoltenberg, in our application portal until 2nd January 2026. Please indicate clearly for which country case studies you are applying. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Maite Vöhl from our HR team (personal[at]weizenbaum-institut.de) at any time. We look forward to receiving your documents.

Application portal