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Postdoc (f/m/x) in the SOEP

Job offer of November 27, 2024

Reference code

SOEP-21-24

Position

Postdoc (f/m/x) in the SOEP

Closing Date

15.01.2025 23:59

The Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), a research-driven infrastructure based at DIW Berlin, is one of the largest and longest running multidisciplinary panel studies worldwide, and currently surveys around 30,000 people in nearly 15,000 households. SOEP aims to capture social change and thus handles a constant stream of new and diverse topics and tasks. Its data collection and generation adhere to the concept of the survey or data life cycle.

Within the SOEP, the DECIPHE project (www.deciphe.eu) will study whether and how demographic changes in Europe impact the intergenerational persistence of homeownership—the chances of being in homeownership if parents were homeowners—, considering variations across countries, regions, and birth cohorts. The DECIPHE project is funded by the Volkswagen Foundation. This is a collaborative project conducted in four partner institutions: DIW (Berlin), TARKI (Budapest), CED (Barcelona), and Oxford University. The postdoc will be employed by DIW and integrated into the research group “Life Course and Inequality” led by Prof. Philipp Lersch.

Starting from 1st May 2025, DIW Berlin is looking for a Postdoc (f/m/x) (Full-time).

Your responsibilities

  • Contribute to collection of original data, including factorial survey experiments
  • Develop your research agenda within the project focused on Objective 4 (to discover drivers of the variation in the intergenerational persistence across countries, regions, and birth cohorts with a focus on demographic conditions)
  • Close collaboration in research with team members and international partners
  • Conceptualization, realization, and publication of research in international peer-reviewed journals
  • Presentations of research at national and international conferences
  • Project co-management
  • Mentoring of researchers

Your qualifications

  • Completed master's degree and PhD in demography, sociology, economics, or a closely related field
  • Strong publication record
  • A keen interest in the research agenda of the project
  • Experience with analysis of longitudinal data and mixed-effects models
  • Experience in data collection
  • Experience in project management
  • Proficiency in using Stata and/or R
  • Fluency in scientific English
  • German knowledge would be an advantage
  • Enjoy teamwork but also be able to work independently

What we offer

An exciting research environment and a strong research group, including all the benefits of DIW Berlin’s international networks.

Insights into data collection processes as well as early access to unique and restricted data, including linked panel and administrative life course data.

The freedom to develop your research questions and set your focus within the project. The chance to integrate your research into the Socio-Economic Panel framework. A creative and collaborative working environment and an international team consisting of highly motivated early career and experienced colleagues.

A job at a research institute with around 300 colleagues, where diversity, equal opportunities, and a healthy work-life balance guide all areas of work. Flexible work schedules tailored to your needs as well as remote work are key parts of our work culture.

DIW Berlin supports your professional and personal qualification and advancement via internal and external career development opportunities and annual performance reviews.

You are paid according to the collective agreement for the public sector (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), which includes an annual bonus as well as a company pension with VBL Ost.

The office is located in the middle of Berlin-Mitte convenient to public transportation. As a DIW Berlin employee, you are eligible for a reduced VBB-Firmenticket that is partially subsidized.

This is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years. Remuneration is paid according to TVöD Bund, salary group E14.

Application and information

We value diversity and welcome all applications regardless of gender, disability, nationality, or ethnic or social origin. If you’re interested in the position, we are excited to hear from you!

Please apply online by 15th January 2025 quoting the reference number SOEP-21-24 and including a cover letter, CV, copies of degree certificates, and a writing sample (research article or (un-)published working paper). Please do not include a photo. If you have any questions about the online application, contact recruiting@diw.de.

In-person interviews are planned to take place in the calendar weeks 5. and 6.

You can find more information about DIW Berlin on our website, www.diw.de. Please contact Philipp Lersch for more information on the specific tasks and responsibilities of this position.

Philipp Lersch

Research Group Leader „Life Course and Inequality“ in the German Socio-Economic Panel study Department

DIW Berlin


Founded in 1925, DIW Berlin (the German Institute for Economic Research) is one of the leading economic research institutes in Germany. The Institute analyzes the economic and social aspects of topical issues, formulating and disseminating policy advice based on its research findings. DIW Berlin is part of both the national and international scientific communities, provides research infrastructure to academics all over the world, and promotes the next generation of scientists. A member of the Leibniz Association, DIW Berlin is independent and primarily publicly funded.

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