About us:

The Geschwister Scholl Institute for Political Science (GSI) is one of the leading political science institutes in Europe.

Our Project:

Are you keen to understand why democracy faces growing challenges and eager to develop meaningful countermeasures? Do you thrive on combining rigorous academic research with tangible societal impact? If so, we warmly invite you to join our team at the Unit Digitalization and Political Behavior (Prof. Dr. Alexander Wuttke).

As a key member of the DFG-funded research project "Democratic Persuasion: How to Make the Case for Democracy" (Project Proposal), you will be part of a collaborative effort between academia and civil society aimed at strengthening democratic resilience in established democracies. Our innovative approach involves identifying the motivation behind democratic skepticism and rigorously testing communicative strategies to reinforce democratic values. We employ diverse experimental methodologies including survey experiments, AI-assisted conversational interventions, and field-experiments involving group discussions and one-on-one dialogues using street epistemology.

We are looking for you:

Postdoctoral Reseacher (m/f/x)

in Munich

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• Contribute to high-quality research publishing in leading venues 
• Design, conduct, and analyze data collection from experiments in various modes 
• Contribute innovative ideas for research hypotheses and designs 
• Coordinate agile project management and lead administrative tasks 

Your qualifications:

Importantly, no candidate is expected to meet all the criteria listed below. The tasks will be distributed among its three project members with a diverse skill set. Please explain in your cover letter how your profile relates to the following qualifications.

• Completed (or near completion of) PhD in Social Science or a related field 
• Proven expertise in quantitative social science methodologies, especially experimental design and/or data analysis 
• Proficiency of Statistical Languages: 
  • R for data wrangling and analysis and/or 
  • Python for implementing LLM-based dialogue systems and text-as-data analysis 
• Substantive expertise related to the project 
  • Research in political psychology or persuasion research or 
  • Research on political systems, democratic backsliding or democratic attitudes 
• Strong organizational and project management skills 
• Experience with Open Science Practice and commitment to Research Integrity 
• Good written and oral English communication skills 
• Willingness to work with the team on-site with flexible working hours and home office options

Benefits:

• Meaningful opportunities to foster democratic resilience through impactful research 
• Involvement in cutting-edge, innovative social science research with strong academic visibility 
• A welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that highly values collaboration and individual contribution 
• Supportive professional environment committed to your career growth 
• Dedicated personal budget for research activities and conference travel 
• Employment at one of Europe's premier research universities located in Munich, a city consistently ranked for outstanding quality of life 
• Competitive salary according to TVL E-13 (approx. €66,000 per year, non-binding, 1, 2) 
• Generous postdoctoral support and development opportunities (1, 2) 
• Various services and benefits provided by LMU, including family support (1, 2)

Also possible in a part-time capacity.

Contact:

We welcome applications from women and other groups that are currently underrepresented in the academic system. Please send complete application documents, a writing sample (e.g., a publication or a pre-registration plan) and a cover letter to ++A.Wuttke@lmu.de++ until June 8th, 2025. Your cover letter should explain how your profile relates to the ideal profile outlined above and explain to which of the of project proposal’s work packages you would be best equipped to contribute to.

Zoom interviews are expected to take place in June 2025. Depending on the number of applications, a second stage with a work sample and in-person interview at LMU Munich may follow (travel costs covered).

Join us in shaping democratic futures—apply today!

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