Research Data Manager (PostDoc) for mapping harvesting relationships (KTS-84)

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 October 1, 2026 our Department Knowledge Technologies for the Social Sciences (KTS), Team FAIR Data located in Cologne, is looking for a Research Data Manager (PostDoc) for mapping harvesting relationships (Salary group 13 TV-L, working time 100 %, limited for three years).

The department Knowledge Technologies for Social Sciences (KTS) conducts research at the intersection of information retrieval, natural language processing, semantic technologies and human information interaction as foundation for innovative web portals and platforms for the search and use of research data.

The HaFER project's goal is to improve the visibility of German research data by identifying how metadata is propagated between the many services collecting such data. For this, we will build a map that will identify which data services harvest which metadata, and how metadata are transformed in the process. Based on this map we will offer best practices to the data services, negotiate with harvesters on how to present metadata better.

The position requires both networking capabilities within the relevant communities as well as technical skills to wrangle, model and analyze the metadata.

Your tasks will be:

• Managing and coordinating the HaFER project to make it a success
• Setting-up automated systems for metadata collection with the help of AI tools
• Networking within the NFDI and other research data organizations to help promote the goals of HaFER, including organization of networking events
• Conducting research in the topics of the department

Your profile:

• Completed academic university degree (Master's or equivalent) and completed PhD in Computer Science, Social Science or related subjects
• Experience in Research Data Management, for example in the context of the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI), or with services that harvest research metadata
• Experience in handling, curating, harvesting and/or extracting research metadata on a technical level
• Proven research record in the topics of the department, preferably Knowledge Graphs and/or Information Extraction
• Excellent English skills are a must, German language skills are a plus

Our Benefits:

• 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