Postdoctoral Researcher (ID 317)

For a position in the Leibniz funded project “Stimulating Prosocial Behavior (PROSOCIAL): Coordinated Analyses Across Diverse Domains” in the Research Group III Information, Incentives, Inequality, the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB) is looking for

a postdoctoral researcher

on a temporary basis for at least 1 year, from September/October 2025 to August/September 2026 with a regular working time of 39 hours per week.

The WZB Berlin Social Science Center is a publicly financed research institution that conducts leading edge theory-based and problem-oriented social science research ( WZB researchers come from across the globe and work across social science disciplines including sociology, political science, economics, law, and psychology. A member of the Leibniz Association, WZB’s research is directed at the science community, policy makers, the media and the general public.

The PROSOCIAL project is a large collaborative project with institutional partners such as RWI Essen, University Hamburg, PIK and many expert individual researchers involved.

In this project, we will investigate how to promote prosocial behavior in different domains, including monetary, blood, and in-kind donations, volunteering, and contributions to sustainability. Based on a conceptual framework, we will develop interventions to promote prosocial behavior and test them in a series of coordinated field experiments. In addition, we will conduct population surveys to study other forms of prosocial behavior, such as organ donation, and to examine support for policies that pursue prosocial and sustainable goals. We will investigate how support for such policies depends on the information provided and the specific policy design. To empirically validate our conceptual framework, we will then synthesize the results of our coordinated field experiments and surveys into a meta-study. The resulting findings will provide a new, domain-independent understanding of prosocial behavior – a gap in the literature that still remains to be filled.

The WZB is predominantly responsible for the charitable giving domain of the project. The candidate is expected to collaborate on selected work packages, especially those involving field experiments with practice partners, and survey experiments. The project has a collaborative character; the partners are expected to work on projects in teams in a cross-institutional manner. The position will enable the candidate to collaborate with leading experts in the field of prosocial behavior in Europe and beyond.

Your tasks and duties

• Design of survey- and field-experiments in line with the project proposal
• Data analysis
• Literature review
• Preparation of scientific publications
• Presentation of project results in workshops and conferences
• Exchange and coordination in the WZB project part
• Exchange and coordination with the network partners
• The possibility of a habilitation or the acquisition of habilitation-equivalent achievements in the field of research on prosocial behavior is given

Minimum Requirements

• Doctoral degree (with very good grade) in economics or a related social science discipline
• Very good knowledge of and interest in the scholarly literature on prosocial behavior, especially charitable giving
• Experience in conducting field-, lab-, or survey experiments, preferably on prosocial behavior
• Very good statistical and programming skills
• Ability to work in a team and independently
• Very good English skills
• German language skills are an advantage

Our offer

• Remuneration in accordance with EG 14 TVöD Bund
• Additional benefits for public service employees (VBL U)
• Advice and support regarding visa and residence permit
• A well-equipped workplace in the center of Berlin
• International, cooperative, and diversified working environment
• In-depth integration into the scientific community in the form of colloquiums and conferences
• Flexible working hours and the possibility of mobile working in Berlin and Germany (at least 20% of the weekly working hours agreed in the contract)
• Comprehensive program for continuous professional development and further qualification, in the own discipline and beyond
• Cafeteria with modern recreation rooms
• Employers’ subsidy to monthly ticket for local public transport (Jobticket or Deutschlandticket Job)
• Counselling and support services for WZB employees in difficult life situations

Equally qualified applicants with disabilities will be given preference. We value diversity and welcome all applications – irrespective of gender, nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation. WZB expressly encourages women or persons with migration backgrounds to apply.

If you have any questions regarding the job opening, please contact Dr. Maja Adena, for contact details, see here .

Job interviews will likely take place in the week starting on April 7, 2025.

For more information about the research group Research Group III Information, Incentives, Inequality, follow this link .

For more information about WZB, see this link .

Have we caught your interest? In that case, we are looking forward to receiving your application via our online application tool by March 17, 2025 .

Since 2010 the audit berufundfamilie (Work-Family Audit) Certificate distinguishes the WZB as a family-friendly employer.

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