The Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies (MPIfG) conducts basic research on the governance of modern societies. It aims to develop an empirically based theory of the social and political foundations of modern economies by investigating the interrelation between social, economic, and political action. Building on the disciplinary traditions of sociology and political science, the Institute’s research program aims to combine and develop the approaches of new economic sociology and comparative and international political economy. We currently have an immediate opportunity for a bachelor’s or master’s student who is enrolled at a university in Germany and interested in working around 8 hours per week as a
Student Assistant for the “Political Economy of Generational Politics and Ageing” research project
led by Dustin Voss.
Your role
- Collecting, organizing, and analyzing relevant newspaper articles
- Searching for relevant quantitative data and datasets
- Producing descriptive figures and tables and performing quantitative analyses
- Providing assistance on related projects
In this role you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in quantitative analysis and comparative case study design. You will also gain experience in all stages of designing and writing scientific papers and books, from formulating a research question and searching and structuring existing literature to running empirical analyses, employing process tracing and comparative case studies, and critically discussing the findings.
Your background and skills
- Student on a degree program in political science, sociology, economics, or a comparable discipline
- Familiarity with social science research methods
- Strong written and verbal language skills in English
- Good knowledge of quantitative data analysis/statistical software (Excel, R and/or Stata preferred but not mandatory)
- Very high level of ability to work independently and with attention to detail
What we offer
You will work at a renowned research institute in an international environment, with access to the MPIfG’s data and library resources and the opportunity to participate in its events. As part of a fixed-term employment contract (WissZeitVG), we offer remuneration in accordance with the Max Planck Society’s guidelines on support for junior scientists; the current rates are 13.80 euros per hour for bachelor’s students and 14.40 euros per hour for master’s students.
A collaborative and collegial working environment is integral to the MPIfG. Starting from the application process, we are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all our employees. The compatibility of career and family is one of our key concerns, as is the employment of people with disabilities. To increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented, we strongly encourage women to apply.
How to apply
Please upload your full application documents in English (cover letter, CV, copies of diplomas and current proof of enrolment) as a single PDF to our online application portal. We regret that we cannot consider applications by post or email. The closing date for applications is September 30, 2025.
