Postdoctoral Researcher in geospatial political data (SDC-32)

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 1, 2027 our Department Survey Data Curation , Team Survey Data Augmentation, located in Cologne , is looking for a

Postdoctoral Researcher in geospatial political data

(Salary group 13 TV-L, working time 100 %, initially limited to 4 years)

The department „ Survey Data Curation “ processes and prepares social science research data across a diverse range of data types to support sociological and political science research, especially in comparative perspectives across space and time.

The curated data include long-running national (e.g., ALLBUS, GLES) and international (e.g., ISSP, CSES) survey programs, which are documented and curated to the highest quality standards, but also research data products derived from or connected to these surveys, such as geo referencing services or trend files.

“Monitoring Electoral Democracy” (MEDem) is an emerging European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) that will enable more comprehensive and innovative comparative democracy research by linking data sources, encouraging standards, and developing tools for data collection and analysis ( www.medem.eu ).

Our team Survey Data Augmentation hosts the MEDem Service Center Linkage.

Your tasks will be: Developing linking tools for geo-coded data to advance democracy research

Coordinating with other MEDem Service Centers on dealing with geo-coded information

Contributing to the general conceptual, organizational, and technical development of MEDem

Collaborating within the team “Survey Data Augmentation”; includes regular presence at the office

Writing related grant proposals

Your profile: Completed master’s degree and a PhD in political science using empirical methods with a focus on subnational dynamics

Advanced skills in coding, managing, linking, and analyzing geospatial data at point, polygon, and raster level, preferably with R, with a specific focus on surveys, earth observation data, and digital trace data

A proven track record in social science research leveraging subnational variation in combination with survey data, preferably in the realm of democracy and/or climate politics

Experience in developing international research data infrastructure

Excellent English and German language skills

Our Benefits: Opportunity to contribute to a research data infrastructure with substantial impact on the future of democracy research

Work in an integrated yet flexible team of quantitative social scientists with substantial synergies between survey augmentation projects specializing in geospatial data applications and democracy

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

Contact For further information concerning the tasks please contact Stefan Jünger via E-Mail ( Mail ( ) .

Interested? Please apply via our online-application portal until August 24, 2026 .

Our reference number is: SDC-32

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