Researcher

We are looking for a

Researcher

to join our interdisciplinary team of researchers at the Web Science Research Group in Kiel. The position start date is September 1st, 2025.

Remuneration is based on the public sector pay scale TV-L at grade EG 13 TV-L (75%, currently 29,025 hours/week). According to § 2 section 2 of the federal law of Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (WissZeitVG), the contract will be fixed term until 31.08.2028 according to the project period. This position offers the opportunity for further academic qualification, and it is possible (but not mandatory) to combine the activity with a doctorate/habilitation in computer science.

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to ROARA (Repercussions of Open Access on Research Assessment), a project funded by the Volkswagen Foundation. The ROARA project seeks to analyze the publishing market and how publishers’ economic interests clash with academic motivations.

Your tasks in ROARA

• Creation and continuous monitoring of a scoping review of literature and publisher information for the commercialization of open data
• Compilation and analysis of a document corpus consisting of publisher reports
• Preparation, implementation and evaluation of an interview study with academic publishers and researchers
• Preparation, implementation and evaluation of an online survey
• Presentation of project outcomes at conferences, in journals and other relevant scholarly outlets, incl. research data management and publication

In addition to relevant research interests, successful applicants will have the following qualifications:

• completed or soon to be completed academic university studies (e.g. diploma, master’s, or doctoral degree) of the following or related disciplines: computer science, information science, science studies, social sciences or economics
• interest in open science, science policy, open access, science studies or related fields
• good communication and organizational skills
• cooperative and team-oriented working style
• fluency in English, both written and verbal

In addition to these recommended qualifications, the following characteristics and skills will be an asset in this position:

• experience in scientific work and scientific writing
• experience with empirical social research methods
• experience in conducting and evaluating qualitative interviews
• experience in document analysis
• experience in conducting and evaluating online surveys

We offer…

• challenging and varied tasks in a dynamic environment where team work, transparency, innovation and learning are essential
• job ticket and bike leasing
• the public sector pension plan (VBL)
• a workplace at the Fjord of Kiel
• part-time work
• equal opportunity and family-friendly policies

Are you interested in joining the ROARA and Web Science teams?

Apply online now (Kenn-Nr. D3-02). 
For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Isabella Peters (i.peters[at]zbw.eu, Tel.: 0049-431 – 8814-623).

ZBW endeavours to increase the proportion of women in this field and therefore urges women with the appropriate qualifications to apply. Women will be given priority in the case of equal suitability, competence and professional performance.

Diversity is one of our core organisational values. We therefore welcome applications regardless of nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, age, sexual orientation or identity.

ZBW is committed to the employment of people with disabilities. Severely handicapped persons and persons of equal status are given preferential treatment if they are suitably qualified.

For more guidance on our application process, please visit our careers web page.

Please submit your application with the relevant documents (such as cover letter, diplomas, certificates, or references) online by July 1st, 2025. Please do not submit a photo with your application.

We look forward to meeting you!