The Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development is a scientific center at the University of Zurich focused on youth development. The Center is a joint venture between the University of Zurich and the Jacobs Foundation. We are dedicated to interdisciplinary, developmental research that will ultimately improve the lives of young people. Our researchers come from the fields of economics, psychology, and sociology. We also collaborate with scientists from additional disciplines in our efforts to best understand the first decades of life.
Your responsibilities
The Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development at the University of Zürich seeks a Project Coordinator for its interdisciplinary longitudinal cohort study of Swiss students in the German- and French-speaking areas, BUNAVIA, which is directed by Professors Michael Shanahan, Moritz Daum, and Laura Bernardi with Project Manager Dr. Martin Kindschi. The BUNAVIA study includes an intervention component that fosters social connections among parents, teachers, and students that will help all students to reach their full potential. BUNAVIA is being designed by scientists from diverse fields, including sociology and demography, psychology, and education. The Project Coordinator is a 100% position for 3 years with the possibility for extension.
Job Responsibilities:
1. Help to develop and test a social network intervention and develop innovative measures of social relationships, basic psychological and social skills, educational performance, parenting styles, lifestyles, and health in the context of families, schools and neighborhoods;
2. Assist with the design and implementation of a multi-stage cluster sampling approach with a focus on recruitment and retention of participants; meet with school officials and other stakeholders to promote study;
3. Long-term planning and supervision of the network intervention as well as data collection.
Your profile
Ideal Qualifications:
Excellent PhD thesis using longitudinal theory and methods, with possible focus in education sciences, psychology, sociology, economics, neuroscience, or a related area
Solid understanding of all aspects of the research process
Experience with larger-scale data collection efforts and/or implementing interventions
Excellent working knowledge of French and English language (German is not required, but strongly preferred)
Comprehensive research design knowledge including statistical methods of longitudinal research
Superb organizational and people skills; good self-presentation skills
Prior experience working with schools, teachers, principals, and other decision-makers in the Swiss school system
Ability to work in teams and independently
Furthermore, we are looking for a candidate with a thorough understanding of the educational system in Switzerland.
What we offer
Possibility to publish research
Support for further academic qualification in research, including the option to pursue a habilitation project
International research contacts
A lively, interdisciplinary workplace with an excellent research environment and close exchange among team members
Salary and employment conditions according to cantonal (Zurich) regulations
Place of work
Zurich Oerlikon
Start of employment
The University of Zurich is an equity employer and strongly encourages applications from women and persons with disabilities.
Please send your application documents (letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, certificates, two reference letters) until TBD electronically summarized in one single PDF document to Maria Schönholzer, maria.schoenholzer@jacobscenter.uzh.ch.
Employment start date to be mutually agreed. As soon as possible, ideally by June 1st.
