Postdoc (3 years) for EU project in loneliness

The Psychological Method Lab at the Faculty of Psychology is looking for a

Postdoc (m,f,x) for EU project in loneliness for 3 years with 39,83 hours per week, TV-L E13

At the Department of Psychological Methods at the Faculty of Psychology, we conduct research on loneliness, well-being, and personality across the lifespan. For more information on our research, please visit http://www.pml.psy.rub.de.
The position to be filled is part of the EU Horizon project "The Loneliness and Social Isolation in Europe Network: Evidence-Based Policy Recommendations on its Causes, Consequences, and Monitoring (LONELY-EU)". LONELY-EU intends to provide dynamic and sustainable evidence on the socioeconomic causes and consequences of loneliness and social isolation in the EU that can be used by an EU-wide network of researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders to propose evidence-based measures to monitor, prevent and mitigate loneliness on local, regional, national, and EU levels. The LONELY-EU consortium involves partners from France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland is coordinated by Prof. Maike Luhmann at Ruhr University Bochum. External partners include the OECD, the WHO and Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (GILC).

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher (100%, 36 months) who will implement the following:
research-oriented work packages, in collaboration with other consortium members:
• Identify, organize and integrate publicly accessible datasets on social isolation and loneliness (with partners in Poland and Italy)
• Pool available evidence on socioeconomic correlates of social isolation and loneliness in a dynamic meta-analytic database (with partners in France)
• Use secondary data to identify risk groups and social and economic causes of social isolation and loneliness (with partners in Italy)

Please note that this position is not suitable for a remote-only arrangement.

Your tasks:

• Conceptualization and implementation of systematic searches for relevant datasets and literature
• Creating and updating interactive databases of datasets and meta-analytic evidence
• Preparation and analysis of secondary data on causes of social isolation and loneliness using causal modeling and machine learning methods
• Implementation of Open Science principles in all project phases (e.g., pre-registration of studies, transparent research data management)
• Publication of English-language articles on the project results
• Project management tasks (e.g., preparing progress reports, ethics documents)
• In addition, the postdoc will be involved in collaborations with other consortium partners and will have the opportunity to participate in in-person meetings of the EU-wide Social Isolation and Loneliness Network.

Your profile:

• Doctoral degree in psychology, sociology, data science or related subjects should be completed at the time of starting the position
• Experience in secondary data analysis
• Advanced statistical skills (e.g., machine learning, causal modeling, meta-analysis)
• Excellent knowledge of the statistical software R and its applications
• Enthusiasm for the topic of the project (topic-specific expertise is of advantage, but not a requirement)
• Very good command of written and spoken English; knowledge of German is of advantage
• Excellent self-management skills
• Reliability, ability to work in a team and high commitment

Our offerings:

• Challenging and varied tasks with a high degree of personal responsibility
• Support from and cooperation with competent colleagues
• An open working atmosphere
• Options for flexible working
• Fair working hours and family-friendly working

Additional information:

At the request of the applicant (m,f,x), the staff
council may be involved in selection
interviews. https://www.wpr.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/

If the position is funded by third-party funds the employee has no teaching obligation.

German language courses are offered by the University Language Center (ZfA) in the field of German as a Foreign Language (DaF).

https://www.daf.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/sbgk/index.html.en

You can find information about TV-L at: https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/

At the request of the applicant (m/f/x), the position can also be taken up on a part-time basis.

The
Ruhr-Universität Bochum is one of Germany’s leading research
universities, addressing the whole range of academic disciplines. A
highly dynamic setting enables researchers and students to work across
the traditional boundaries of academic subjects and faculties. To create
knowledge networks within and beyond the university is RUB’s declared
aim.

The Ruhr-Universität Bochum stands for diversity and equal opportunities. For this reason, we favour a working environment composed of heterogeneous teams, and seek to promote the careers of individuals who are underrepresented in our respective professional areas. The Ruhr-Universität Bochum expressly requests job applications from women. In areas in which they are underrepresented they will be given preference in the case of equivalent qualifications with male candidates. Applications from individuals with disabilities are most welcome.

Contact details for your application:

Prof. Dr. Maike Luhmann, Phone: +49234 32 24624
Stephanie Hedtfeld, Phone: + 49234 32 27169

Travel expenses for interviews cannot be refunded.

For information on the collection of personal data in the application process see:
https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/information-collection-personal-data-a....

For questions on the position, please contact Prof. Luhmann at maike.luhmann@rub.de.

Please send your application documents (short letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, list of publications if applicable, references and certificates, 1-2 significant publications) in a single pdf file with the subject "Application for LONELY-EU postdoc ANR 3815" by e-mail until 21.10.2024 to Stephanie Hedtfeld at psymeth@rub.de.