Research Assistant / Predoc

Organisation/Company: Fondation nationale des Sciences Politiques

Department: Centre for research on social inequalities

Research Field: Sociology, Demography, Economics, Psychological sciences

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions: Research Support Positions

Country: France

Application Deadline: 30 Nov 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)

Type of Contract: To be defined

Job Status: Part-time

Offer Starting Date: 1 Sep 2025

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC

Reference Number: 101163266

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Centre for Research on Social Inequality (CRIS) at Sciences Po, Paris is seeking to appoint a full-time or part-time research assistant / predoctoral researcher to join the Research Team led by Prof. Bastian Betthaeuser working on the ERC-funded project ‘Understanding the Consequences of Major Health Crises for Education: Learning from the COVID-19 Pandemic (LEARN)’. The LEARN project will systematically investigate the key processes through which major disruptive events affect children’s educational development and the key factors that moderate these processes.

Key Responsibilities

The research assistant / predoctoral researcher will work with the PI and other members of the research team in addressing the core aims of the LEARN project. Key responsibilities of this role may include:

1. Preparing data for analyses
2. Conducting quantitative analyses
3. Contributing to the preparation of academic articles (in English) for publication in leading international journals
4. Disseminating findings in public media outlets and other venues
5. Managing the online presence of the LEARN project
6. Contributing to the reporting and administration of the LEARN project

Key Qualifications

● Bachelor or Master degree (or equivalent) in the social sciences, preferably in sociology, demography, economics, cognitive sciences, psychology, or a related field (or evidence that the Bachelor or Master degree will be completed within the 2024-25 academic year)

● Basic quantitative methods skills

● Proficiency in using Stata and/or R

● Fluency in English

● Strong intrinsic motivation to conduct world-leading, high-impact research

● Strong interest in issues of educational development and education inequality

● Strong ability to work cooperatively as part of a larger research team

● Experience with data preparation & analysis (preferable, but not essential)

Languages

ENGLISH Level: Excellent

Additional Information

What we offer:

1. Flexible working conditions: The exact starting date, working times, and remote working arrangements can be discussed based on the needs of the research assistant / predoctoral researcher and the research project
2. A vibrant research environment at an internationally leading university and a renowned center for research on social and educational inequalities
3. Modern work space at Sciences Po’s new Saint-Thomas Campus in the heart of Paris and options for remote working
4. Opportunity to build your research experience as part of a dynamic, outcome-focused research team

Selection Process

Application materials & timeline: Please apply by the end of 30 November 2024 by completing this online form and include in a single PDF file containing:

1. Cover letter (1 page) describing how you meet the key qualifications outlined above
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Writing sample (e.g., your bachelor / master thesis or a term paper)
4. Contact information for two academic referees

CRIS values diversity and is keen to employ individuals from minorities and under-represented groups. We seek to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourage women to apply.

Additional Comments

The Centre for Research on Social Inequalities (CRIS), Sciences Po, Paris: CRIS is a renowned center for research on social and educational inequalities. It consists of a lively and vibrant community of international experts in the study of different facets of inequality such as education, life course, gender, family, health, cultural, digital, labor market, economic, and environmental inequality, social mobility, urban segregation, migration, and ethno-racial minorities. CRIS is committed to empirical research, drawing on diverse methods and promoting interdisciplinary approaches to generate policy-relevant insights in a world where inequality has become a major threat.