Researcher in Public Administration / Political Science

 

Nestled in a modern city surrounded by nature and with an exceptional standard of living, Leibniz University Hannover offers excellent working conditions in a vibrant scientific community.

The Institute of Political Science / Chair of Public Administration and Public Policy welcomes applications for the following position starting at the earliest possible date: Researcher in Public Administration / Political Science (salary scale 13 TV-L, 75 %)

The fixed-term position is for a duration of 3 years, extension is possible.

The researcher will be part of the Chair of Public Administration and Public Policy (led by Prof. Dr. Steffen Eckhard) and part of the project BiASD-AI (Biases in Administrative Service Encounters: Transitioning from Human to Artificial Intelligence), funded by the European Research Council (ERC). For more details on the project, see: https://www.ipw.uni-hannover.de/institut/arbeitsbereiche/oeffentliche-verwaltung-und-politik 

The primary focus of this position is the analysis of text data. Knowledge of Text-as-Data, Natural Language Processing (NLP), other computer-assisted text analysis methods, and Large Language Models (LLM) is desirable. A willingness to pursue further training in this field is required. The position can be filled as doctoral or post-doctoral position.

Your role 

• Contributing to a large-scale research project and playing a leading role in its conceptual, theoretical and empirical output.
• Working towards joint publications in recognized international journals, including co-authored papers with other members of the research project and the working group.
• Contributing to the project’s data collection in collaboration with German administrative agencies.
• Actively engaging in the academic community, including at the research team and the Institute of Political Science at Leibniz University Hannover.
• Presenting research findings at international conferences.
• Participating in the regular meetings of the international members of the research project –usually in English.
• (Co-)supervise student theses.
• No teaching obligation, but an opportunity to teach.

Who are we looking for?

• Prerequisite for employment is a Master’s degree in political science, public administration, data science or a comparable discipline.
• An entrepreneurial personality with a keen interest in matters of public administration and artificial intelligence.
• Knowledge of international literature in public administration.
• Strong skills in the application of empirical research methods, as well as in data collection and management, ideally demonstrated through own publications.
• Problem-solving and analytical skills, along with a high degree of self-motivation and self-organization.
• An international orientation and very good English language skills; German language skills are an asset but not essential.
• Willingness to communicate and engage with German administrative agencies in the context of a cooperative data collection process.
• Experience with quantitative methods and programming skills in R and/or Python are required. Knowledge of computer-assisted text analysis and large language models is desirable, or a willingness to learn is required.

Candidates who do not yet fulfil all criteria listed above are nonetheless encouraged to apply.

Equal opportunities and diversity are core values at Leibniz University Hannover. Our goal is to tap into individual potential and open up possibilities. We therefore welcome applications from anyone interested in the position, irrespective of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or ideology, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.

We strive towards a balanced and diverse workforce and a reduction in under-representation in accordance with the Lower Saxony Equal Rights Act (Niedersächsisches Gleichberechtigungsgesetz – NGG). We therefore also welcome applications from women for the above-mentioned position. Preference will be given to equally-qualified candidates with disabilities. 

Why join us?

With more than 5.000 employees, Leibniz University Hannover is one of the largest and most attractive employers in the Hannover region. We offer a vibrant interdisciplinary and international working environment, and promote personal and professional development ranging from subject-related skills to leadership and languages.

You will be paid a competitive salary commensurate with a TV-L 13 position of 75 % (https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/c/t/rechner/tv-l/allg?id=tv-l-2026) and you will be given the opportunity to develop an individual research profile, receive high-quality mentoring for your academic career and make an impact on public administration / political science in the context of a large-scale, ERC-funded research project.

Part-time employment and mobile work can be arranged upon request. We support employees with balancing work and family life, through services such as back-up childcare, childcare during school holidays, and parent-child offices, as well as providing individual advice regarding family responsibilities and caring for dependants.

To promote health and well-being among employees, we offer an extensive sports programme with over 100 different sports, as well as a fitness centre with a sauna and climbing space. Health management measures, such as courses on stress management, good nutrition and relaxation, aim to ensure a healthy workplace.

 

Additional information

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Steffen Eckhard and Martin Haus (email: m.haus@ipw.uni-hannover.de).