The Independent Research Group ‘Space, Contexts, and Crime’ at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law (Freiburg, Germany) is seeking for a research project on crime during the Covid-19 pandemic (pending funding decision), starting in June 2021, a

Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/div)

The Independent Research Group ‘Space, Contexts, and Crime’ is part of the Department of Criminology. The Max Planck Institute is one of the leading interdisciplinary research institutions in its field in Europe and part of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, one of world’s most distinguished research organizations. Freiburg is a university town in southwest Germany at the edge of the Black Forest, and close to Switzerland and France.

Objectives
The project will analyze the changes in recorded crime in southwest Germany during the current pandemic in association with changes in human mobility, focusing both on the temporal and spatial patterns of crime at different geographic levels. The project will also develop GIS-based tools for monitoring crime risks.

Your profile
We are looking for a social scientist or criminologist with a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in quantitative research methods and an interest in crime research. Experience in longitudinal and/or spatial data analysis, familiarity with statistical software (STATA, R), and excellent English language skills are essential.

Our offer
The appointment will be for three years. As a postdoctoral researcher, your salary will be calculated in accordance with your qualifications and previous experience, in line with the public sector employee levels E 13 or E 14 (TVöD Bund, roughly € 4,100 to € 5,160 per month). The salary includes all mandatory social insurance contributions for healthcare, unemployment, and retirement benefits.

The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from disabled persons. It also aims to increase the percentage of female researchers in fields in which they are underrepresented and therefore also expressly encourages women to apply. The Max Planck Society strives to ensure diversity and encourages applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to the reconciliation of family and career and can offer flexible working arrangements.

Your application
To apply, please submit a letter of interest and an outline of your previous experience, a CV, academic transcripts, and two or more references in one PDF file via our online application portal.

For further information, please contact Professor Dietrich Oberwittler (d.oberwittler@csl.mpg.de). The deadline for application is March 19, 2021.