GESIS – Leibniz-Institute for the Social Sciences
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Postdoctoral Researcher in Geocoded Electoral Data (SDC-34) GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences in Germany
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Sociology
Funding
Available
Deadline
Oct 2, 2026
Country
Germany
University
GESIS – Leibniz-Institute for the Social Sciences

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About this position
GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences is recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher in geocoded electoral data (SDC-34) for its Department of Survey Data Curation, Team Survey Data Augmentation, based in Cologne, Germany. This is a full-time, temporary postdoctoral position for 3 years, starting 1 January 2027, with salary according to TV-L E13.
The role is part of the “Electoral Spaces” project, which is developing a research data infrastructure to make geocoded electoral data more findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. The post sits within a broader social science data curation environment at GESIS, an internationally active research institute funded by federal and state governments and a member of the Leibniz Association. The work connects survey data curation, spatial data applications, and democracy research.
The successful candidate will lead the development of data curation, validation, and spatial aggregation tools for geocoded electoral data using R. Responsibilities also include establishing a framework for legal, ethical, and licensing conditions for data provision and reuse; supporting principal investigators in project coordination and workflow management; creating user documentation, training materials, and public interfaces; and conducting methodological or applied research that demonstrates the infrastructure’s value.
Applicants should hold a completed PhD in political science, quantitative social science, spatial data science, or a related discipline, along with a Master’s degree or equivalent university qualification. The role requires advanced expertise in longitudinal and spatial data integration, provenance documentation, reproducible workflows, coding and managing spatial datasets in R, version control, and data curation standards. Experience in empirical research and scientific innovation with data infrastructure, together with excellent English, is expected.
Applications should be submitted online by 2 October 2026. The application package should include a motivation letter, CV, and writing sample. For questions about the tasks, contact Sebastian Ziaja at [email protected]; for application process questions, contact Christine Laßmann at [email protected].
This is an excellent opportunity for a postdoctoral researcher interested in electoral data infrastructure, geospatial data curation, and the interfaces between political science, sociology, and spatial data science.
Funding details
Available
What's required
Completed academic university degree (Master’s or equivalent) and completed PhD in political science, quantitative social science, spatial data science, or a related discipline. Applicants should have advanced expertise in longitudinal and spatial data integration, provenance documentation, and reproducible workflows, proficiency in coding and managing spatial datasets in R, experience with version control and data curation standards, a track record of contributing to empirical research and scientific innovation with data infrastructure, and excellent English language skills.
How to apply
Apply through the online application portal. Submit a motivation letter, CV, and a writing sample. Applications must be submitted by 2 October 2026.
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