Research Fellow (m/f/d) - Postdoctoral Researcher

The Berlin Social Science Center (WZB) is looking for a temporary position at the Department of Migration, Integration, Transnationalization (Director: Prof. Dr. Ruud Koopmans; see for a fixed term from March 1, 2025 to February 29, 2028, subject to final approval of the external fundinga Research Fellow (m/f/d) – Postdoctoral Researcher(100%) (ID 304)for collaboration in the BMBF/BMI-funded Cluster of Excellence Monitoring System and Transfer Platform Radicalization (MOTRA) – see The WZB team of the cluster deals with mobilization structures, protests and public discourses relevant to various forms of extremism. The advertised position will focus on Islamism and in particular examine the relevance of the Islamophobia issue for the mobilization structures and public discourses of Islamist actors and their allies. Another key topic for the position is anti-Semitism in its Islamist, far-right and far-left forms. To address these topics, public discourses will be systematically investigated (qualitatively and quantitatively), organizational structures and networks in the areas of Islamism and Islamophobia will be surveyed and an online panel survey with integrated survey experiments will be co-designed and evaluated.

Within the same project context, the WZB has separately advertised an additional position as a Research Fellow (m/f/d) – Postdoctoral Researcher (100%) at the Center for Civil Society Research with a focus on political protest, social movements and radicalization.

The WZB Berlin Social Science Center is a publicly financed research institution that conducts leading edge theory-based and problem-oriented social science research ( At the WZB, around 450 researchers from various disciplines work together with staff members from the research-supporting areas. 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.

Your tasks and dutiesCollection and analysis of media-based data on public discourses, organizational networks and survey data: Organization, coordination and implementation of data collectionPreparation of scientific publicationsCollaboration on the project reportsPresentation of project results in workshops and conferencesExchange and coordination within the WZB part of the project in collaboration with the Center for Civil Society ResearchExchange and coordination with partners in the MOTRA consortiumYour qualifications profileA high-quality doctoral degree in political science, sociology or a related social science disciplineVery good knowledge of and interest in research literatures on political and religious extremism, Islamism and/or anti-SemitismVery good statistical skillsExperience with quantitative text analysis and/or the design of surveys and survey experimentsAbility to work in a team and independentlyVery good knowledge of German and EnglishOur offerRemuneration in accordance with EG 13 TVöD BundAdditional benefits for public service employees (VBL U)International, cooperative, and diversified working environmentWe promote a good work-life balanceComprehensive program for continuous professional development and further qualification, in the own discipline and beyondEqually 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 Melinda Biolchini at 030/25491453.

Job interviews will likely take place in the week starting on January 27, 2025.

Have we caught your interest? In that case, we are looking forward to receiving your application (including a letter of motivation, CV, relevant certificates and a reading sample (published or unpublished manuscript) in a single PDF document) via our online application tool by December 26, 2024.Apply now

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