Doctoral Student in Research Software Engineering for Digital Behavioral Data (CSS-115)

GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences is an internationally active research institute, funded by federal and state governments and a member of the Leibniz Association.

Starting on January 15, 2026 , our Department Computational Social Science (CSS) , Team Designed Digital Data located in Cologne , is looking for a
Doctoral Student in Research Software Engineering for Digital Behavioral Data

(Salary group 13 TV-L, working time 75 % , limited for four years)

The department Computational Social Science (CSS) collects digital behavioral data and provides computer-based methods for collecting and analyzing such data for social science research. It also supports scientists with the integration of digital behavioral data into their research designs. The department's research focuses on the quality of digital behavioral data, the development and validation of computational social science methods and the transformation of digital societies. The Designed Digital Data team develops data collection tools and technical infrastructures for user-centered collection of digital behavioral data – for example through web tracking, mobile apps, or data donations.

Your tasks will be:

• Maintaining and improving existing systems as well as supporting the operation of the tools
• Collaborating with experienced researchers and research software engineers in creating innovative research software solutions
• Processing, structuring, and documenting digital behavioral data within reproducible analysis pipelines
• Conducting independent research and writing a dissertation in computer science or computational social science

Your profile:

• University degree (Diploma, Master or similar) in computer science or a related discipline (e.g., software engineering, data science)
• Familiarity with modern programming workflows, including version control and automated development processes (e.g., Git, Docker, cloud platforms, testing frameworks, documentation tools)
• Excellent knowledge of Python as well as of relational and non-relational databases (e.g., SQL, NoSQL)
• Excellent command of written and spoken English
• Promotion of your skills through further training measures, e.g., on the technologies required for the tasks.
• Resources for attending conferences in academia and software development
• 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

Contact

For further information concerning the tasks please contact Dr. Frank Mangold via E-Mail ( ). If you have questions about the application process, please contact Franca Tosetti via E-Mail ( ).

Interested?

Please apply via our Online-application portal. Our reference number is: CSS-115

GESIS is one of the world's leading social science infrastructure facilities, supporting researchers at all levels of their research projects with expertise and infrastructure services. We help ensure that socially relevant questions can be answered based on reliable data, the latest scientific methods and research information. We help with study planning and data collection, provide high-quality research data, support with data preparation and analysis, and finally with data archiving.

GESIS helps you gain further qualifications. We offer our employees a wide range of career opportunities in an appealing work environment with a high degree of personal responsibility and creative freedom. With us, you will work in an international environment in the heart of Mannheim and Cologne and benefit from a flexible work environment as well as internal and external networks.

GESIS ensures compliance with the guidelines for the severely disabled and promotes professional equality between women and men. Full-time positions can also be filled on a part-time basis.

As a family-friendly employer, we have been certified by the “berufundfamilie” audit since 2010.

Further information on working at GESIS can be found here.

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