Research assistant (postdoc) (f/m/d) - EP-12-19/2026

Fachbereich Erziehungswissenschaft und Psychologie - Wissenschaftsbereich Psychologie
Methods and Evaluation / Quality Assurance, SFB 1759

full-time job
limited till 30.06.2030
salary grade (Entgeltgruppe) 13 TV-L FU
reference code: EP-12-19/2026

The SFB 1759 "Habitability as a fundamental planetary process: Towards a paradigm shift away from our perception of the uniqueness of Earth" is a newly established Collaborative Research Center studying habitability for life as we know it based on fundamental physio- geo-chemical processes set by the planet's evolution. The study of planetary habitability in this SFB is therefore oriented along the planetary boundary conditions set by astronomy, physics, chemistry and geology, rather than Earth-specific biological evolution. By focusing on the environments in which life may (or may not) evolve, the SFB will be able to define which signatures (such as trace elements in an atmosphere) can be explained by abiotic processes, and which would indeed need some form of extraterrestrial life, leading to a new database of potential biosignatures as well as traces of habitability. As finding potential biosignatures or traces of habitability may also impact society, the SFB takes a holistic approach and investigates also ethical considerations, how scientists communicate scientific results to the public and how these are discussed in social media, as well as the general perception of the public and factors influencing this. In the SFB, different views on one of the most important questions of humanity - are we alone in the universe? - will therefore be examined hand in hand with different perspectives in natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

More information: berlin.de/en/geol/fachrichtungen/planet/projects/SFB1759

The planned position is offered at the Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Education and Psychology, in Berlin, Germany. Review of applications will start on the day after the application deadline until the position is filled. The earliest starting date of the position is the 1 October 2026. The starting dates are flexible but funding is limited to 30 June 2030.

Applications should be written in English and include a cover letter, the names and email addresses of three referees, CV incl. publication list, and copies of degree certificates, all combined into a single pdf (max. 10 MB). It is possible to apply for multiple positions offered within the SFB at the same time, please indicate the reference code(s) for the position(s) that you are applying for and email your application to [email protected] .

Job description:

We are seeking applicants at post-doc level for a position in the newly established collaborative research center SFB 1759.

The postdoctoral researcher will work in an interdisciplinary research project on the scientific and societal dimensions of missions bringing back samples from celestial bodies to Earth. Focus of this position is the social part. The natural science part of the project is conducted at the German Aerospace Center and will compare sterilization and containment strategies to balance biosafety with scientific data integrity. For the societal questions of the project, we will differentiate between different possible scenarios from bringing back samples from other planets to Earth to finding signs of extraterrestrial life on other planets within or outside our solar system. We will specifically investigate psychological constructs, such as knowledge, education, and trust in science, but also ethical and religious aspects as well as media usage.

The postdoctoral researcher in psychology will construct vignettes together with the respective researchers from the space sciences. The postdoctoral researcher will also identify, adapt, and develop new measurement scales on relevant social constructs and will evaluate their psychometric properties in validation studies. The main goal will be to construct and conduct a large representative survey of the adult German population and to analyse the data and publish the results. For more information please contact Steffi Pohl ( [email protected] ).

Requirements:

Completed PhD in Psychology or a related field.

Desirable:

• Excellent academic record and doctorate/PhD thesis
• Interest in the topic
• Openness to interdisciplinary research
• Experience in the development and psychometric evaluation of social science scales
• Proficiency in statistical software, e.g., R, MATLAB, or Python
• Experience in creating online surveys, e.g., in SoSci Survey, Qualtrics, or Unipark, is an advantage
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills, good communication skills, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Very good written and spoken English (B2/C1)

Applications should be sent by e-mail, together with significant documents (complete CV incl. all certificates, letter of motivation, references), indicating the reference code, no later than August, 17 th , 2026 in PDF format (preferably as one document) to Frau Prof. Dr. Steffi Pohl: [email protected] or postal to

Freie Universität Berlin
Fachbereich Erziehungswissenschaft und Psychologie Wissenschaftsbereich Psychologie
Methods and Evaluation / Quality Assurance, SFB 1759 Frau Prof. Dr. Steffi Pohl
Habelschwerdter Allee 45
14195 Berlin (Dahlem)

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Freie Universität Berlin is an equal opportunity employer.