The Institute of Social Sciences of the Faculty of Social and Political
Sciences, at the University of Lausanne,
in collaboration with the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development at
the University of Zurich
2-year Position as Research Collaborator (Postdoc) at the University of
Lausanne
60 %
The LIVES Centre, at the Institute of Social Sciences at the University of
Lausanne, is a reference center for research, analysis, and training that
studies the effects of the economy and post-industrial society on the
evolution of situations of vulnerability through longitudinal and comparative
studies. It aims to better understand the emergence and evolution of
vulnerability and how to overcome it in order to foster the emergence of
innovative socio-political measures. These fundamental aspects of the research
conducted at the Centre aim to give a global picture of the trajectories of
individuals, taking into account the interactions between the different fields
of life, such as family, gender, work, health, age, etc. In addition,
researchers are studying the influence of societal structures, which can
facilitate or hinder the mobilization of individuals' resources.
The Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development (JCPYD) at the University
of Zurich is a scientific center focused on youth development and dedicated to
interdisciplinary, developmental research that will ultimately improve the
lives of young people. It hosts several longitudinal studies including
z-proso, which studies the social development of children and youths, with a
focus on aggressive and delinquent behaviour, and the Zurich Youth Survey
assessing the lives of young people in the canton of Zurich.
Your responsibilities
The research project you will be working on, funded by JCPYD in partnership
with UNIL and the Zurich Learning Progress Study, aims to explore the impact
of socioeconomic, cultural, and developmental factors on child development and
learning in the Cantons of Vaud and Zurich. Led by Professors Moritz Daum,
Laura Bernardi, and Michael Shanahan, the project will collect data through
online surveys and real-time, in-class assessments to create a public database
on parental organization, social status, job quality, values, networks,
competencies, and time allocation.
You will coordinate the activities to conceive and implement the project's
original panel survey in the Canton of Vaud, under the supervision of
Laura Bernardi.
You will also collaborate with the other projects' Principal Investigators
in connection with the survey institute mandated to realize the data
collection.
You will focus your research on original data on children's learning and
their family environment and indicators of parents' and children's time
use and social contacts.
You will present at international conferences and publish in scientific
journals with the PI.
You will be involved in collaboration with societal stakeholders of the
project.
Your profile
You have a Doctoral Degree in Demography, Psychology, Sociology, Social
Sciences or equivalent.
You have worked in or are highly motivated to research youth education and
family. Experience or interest in institutional regulation of families is
also an asset.
You are well-trained in social statistics, panel data analyses, and
longitudinal research methodology and willing to learn more about advanced
methods if necessary.
Participation in the conception and realization of a large survey is an
asset.
You are organized, self-reliant, able to work independently, cooperative,
and with a positive attitude towards teamwork.
You master written and spoken French and are fluent in written and spoken
English. In addition, good knowledge of German is an asset.
What we offer
You will have a chance to be a part of a large-scale research project
funded by the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development. The project
aims at producing integrated empirical evidence to further theory,
research, and practice on children's learning conditions and social
inequalities among children related to family structure and dynamics.
You will gain experience working in an interdisciplinary team with
academic and non-academic experts in the field of child learning.
You will work in a rich, well-networked, and stimulating interdisciplinary
environment at the national research centre LIVES and have opportunities
to be integrated into the LIVES laboratory of the Institute of Social
Sciences. Similarly, you will collaborate closely with the JCPYD project
team of University Zurich.
You can profit from the conference participation support but also of the
LIVES graduate school (doctoral and postdoctoral level courses).
Place of work
UNIL - Géopolis, Géopolis, Quartier Mouline, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Start of employment
September 1, 2023
Include in the application:
(1) cover letter,
(2) CV,
(3) copies of university degrees (with marks),
(4) copy of two exemplary papers and your doctoral thesis,
(5) any certificates or reference letters attesting to your professional
experience,
(6) one recommendation letter.
