Research Fellow

The German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)/Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien is an independent Social Science research institute based in Hamburg. It analyses political, social, and economic developments in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, and links this knowledge to questions of global significance. It combines region-specific analysis with innovative comparative research on accountability and participation, peace and security, globalisation and development, and global order and foreign policies. The GIGA seeks to appoint a

Research Fellow (75%) 

It is a 75% position, with a contract of 2 years, preferably starting on 15 August 2024. The position is designed for further professional qualification as defined in § 2 WissZeitVG (Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act). The salary is commensurate with TV-AVH / TVöD EG 13. 

The successful candidate will work in the project Religion for Peace: Investigating Messengers and Messages for Interreligious Peace, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). 

Religious leaders are active for (interreligious) peace in many contexts and, for example, use their rhetoric to advocate for peace. The effectiveness of religious leaders’ rhetoric depends on the interplay of religious leaders being the messengers and the contents of their words—the message itself. This project (re)tests the (comparative) effectiveness of religious leaders as peace messengers and effective content of peace messages. The project also examines effects of an intervention designed and conducted with a Togolese civil society organization that aims to promote interreligious cooperation. 

The successful candidate will

• Contribute to the further development of the project based on their own research interests and experiences
• Design, conduct, and analyze (online) surveys that include experiments to investigate the research questions posed by the project
• Participate in the evaluation of an intervention to foster interreligious cooperation and travel for the related data collection efforts to Togo
• Engage in the dissemination of research findings within the academic and policy communities as well as among the wider public
• Benefit from exchange within the Institute for African Affairs, the GIGA Research Programme “Peace and Security” and GIGA Doctoral Programme 

Your qualifications:

• A very good university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Social Sciences (Political Science, Sociology, Economics, or related disciplines)
• Sound quantitative methodological skills to design and analyze cross-sectional and experimental survey data
• Knowledge of or keen interest in questions of attitude and behavior change as well as issues regarding themes of religion, peace and conflict in Africa and beyond
• Prior experience in data collection or conducting empirical research as well as a willingness to travel for data collection
• Strong command of spoken and written English as well as conversational French language skills, additional language skills are an asset (e.g. Arabic, Swahili); German-language skills are not a pre-requisite 

The GIGA strongly encourages concurrent work on a doctoral degree. The Research Fellow would become a member of the GIGA Doctoral Programme. 

Other part-time options will be considered, if so desired by the successful candidate. Diversity and the reconciliation of work and family life are of great importance to the institute. The GIGA promotes the equality of all genders. Additionally, we actively encourage applications from persons with disabilities. 

Please fill out the application form (found at https://www.giga-hamburg.de/en/career) and send it together with your full application (Ref.-No. GIGA-24-05) including (one page cover/ motivation letter, CV, simple copies of credentials/diplomas/certificates, optional: names and contact details of up to two references), as ONE pdf-document (except the completed GIGA application form) to: 

German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA),

IAA secretariat

Neuer Jungfernstieg 21, 20354 Hamburg, Germany

Email: jobs-iaa@giga-hamburg.de (email applications are particularly welcome). 

Screening of applications will begin on 22. April 2024. Short-listed applicants will be invited to perform a written task and interviews are scheduled for the end of May. 

For further information, please visit the GIGA homepage (www.giga-hamburg.de), the project homepage, or contact Prof. Dr. Matthias Basedau (email: matthias.basedau@giga-hamburg.de) or Julia Köbrich (e-mail: julia.koebrich@giga-hamburg.de).