2 Positions Research assistant (praedoc)

The project focuses on studying long-term mechanisms of survival of liberal values in a repressive authoritarian setting. For this purpose, it focuses on studying the persistence of urban educated groups of the pre-revolutionary era under the Communist rule. We plan to study whether these groups were able to keep their liberal values and attitudes over a prolonged period of time and which mechanisms contributed to it. The project will be implemented jointly with Tomila Lankina (LSE) within the framework of an Einstein Visiting Fellowship.

A successful applicant is expected to take over the following tasks

• Analysis of the current state of the art research and assistance by the development of a conceptual framework for the analysis.
• Implementation of empirical analysis, including fieldwork, on the topic of the project.
• Analysis of datasets collected within the framework of the project using statistical methods.
• Contribution to academic publications based on project’s results.
• Administrative support of the project, its events and activities.

The employment offers the opportunity for acquiring a PhD degree under supervision of Alexander Libman and Tomila Lankina at the FU Berlin.

• completed academic university education in a relevant field (social sciences, political science, economics etc.)

Desirable:

• good knowledge of quantitative tools of empirical social science research.
• experience in academic work;
• knolwegde of university structures;
• experience in organizational work;
• ability to work independently while solving conceptual tasks and high innovation capacity;
• good knowledge of German
• excellent knowledge of English;
• knowledge of Russian or Ukrainian would be of asset;
• familiarity with historical/ archival materials on Imperial and soviet Russia would be an asset.

Please direct your questions to Prof. Dr. Alexander Libman alexander.libman@fu-berlin.de or
Prof. Dr. Tomila Lankina T.Lankina@lse.ac.uk .

Applications should be sent by e-mail, together with significant documents, indicating the reference code, no later than June 16th , 2025 in PDF format (preferably as one document) to Prof. Dr. Alexander Libman: politik@oei.fu-berlin.de or postal to

Freie Universität Berlin
Zentralinstitut Osteuropa-Institut
Herrn Prof. Dr. Alexander Libman
Garystr. 55
14195 Berlin (Dahlem)

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Freie Universität Berlin is an equal opportunity employer