The Department of Political Science is looking for a Research assistant (8,97 hours per week).
We are seeking a B.A./B.Sc. or M.A./M.Sc. student to provide research, teaching, and administrative support in the Department of Political Science and the Political Economy Lab. We study how democracies can address large-scale societal challenges such as climate change, economic crises, and political instability.
Tasks:
- Research assistance including literature search, data collection, data cleaning, proofreading, replication etc.
- Assist with department leadership and academic self-governance
- Teaching assistance including preparing courses, producing slides and other teaching materials, administrative support for instructors
Prerequisites:
- Enrollment in B.A./B.Sc. or M.A./M.Sc. program in Political Science, Economics, or related social sciences discipline
- Knowledge of and interest in quantitative methods (e.g., regression analysis, statistical inference, experimental and quasi-experimental methods)
- Experience with R; experience with Python is a desirable plus
- Motivation, commitment, and ability to work independently
- Proficiency in German and English
We offer:
- Salary: Students with B.A./B.Sc. degree: EUR 16.20 per hour (16.90 EUR per hour from Apr 1st, 2027); without B.A./B.Sc. degree: EUR 15.20 per hour (15.90 EUR per hour from Apr 1st, 2027).
- Involvement in actual, policy-relevant political science research projects
- Opportunity to improve quantitative research skills
- Contributing to academic self-governance and taught programs
Application
Please submit your application in English as a single PDF file including a short cover letter, CV, and a recent writing sample (e.g., preferably a quantitative term paper) showcasing analytical and methodological skills to Nils Blossey (blossey(at)wiso.uni-koeln(dot)de). The application deadline is October 11th, 2026. Preferrable starting date is December 1st, 2026.