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 primary faculty comes 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 Zurich (UZH) seeks to fill the positions of 2 researchers (at the doctoral or postdoctoral level) for its interdisciplinary longitudinal study of children's development assessed by a smartphone-based developmental diary app (www.weltentdeckerapp.ch). Using the kleineWeltentdecker App, parents can track the development of their children's competencies. This data is the basis for a population-based prospective and longitudinal study on children's development from 0 to 7 years. The project is led by Prof. Moritz Daum, Dr. Anja Gampe, and Marco Bleiker.
Your profile
Job Responsibilities
Conceptualising, planning, managing, and analysing data on the development of cognitive, motor and linguistic performance and/or of socio-emotional experiences in daily life by means of the kleineWeltentdecker App.
Project management and continuing development of the app.
International promotion of the app through public relations and targeted advertising.
Coordination of collaborations with other researchers employing the kleineWeltentdecker App.
Support for questions of the app users.
Preparation of scientific publications and conference contributions.
Student supervision at the undergraduate (BSc and MSc) level and teaching.
Requirements for the Postdoctoral Position (80%)
A university degree and above average doctoral degree in psychology, cognitive sciences, education sciences, data sciences, digital humanities, or a related area.
Experience and research practice in investigating intraindividual variability in cognitive, motor, linguistic or socio- emotional variables as well as short-term and long-term change processes in different family settings.
Excellent knowledge of methods and statistics regarding data-intensive longitudinal study designs and their analysis with multilevel and longitudinal data analysis;
Experience in conceptualising and managing empirical studies with citizen science methods.
Experience with experimental-psychological research is of advantage.
Requirements for the Predoctoral Position (70%)
An above-average degree in psychology, cognitive sciences, education sciences, data sciences, digital humanities.
Experience in conducting studies with children of different age groups is an advantage.
Excellent knowledge of methods and statistics.
Strong interest in the variability and early ontogeny of children's skills.
Further Qualifications for both positions
Interest in basic research in Developmental Psychology.
Excellent project management and communication skills.
Solid understanding of all aspects of the research process.
Very good English language skills and basic German language skills respectively the willingness to acquire German language skills.
Superb organizational and people skills; good self-presentation skills.
Ability to work in teams and independently.
If you fit this profile, like challenging tasks, and are passionate about research, then we would love to hear from you. Please send your application documents (letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, certificates, two reference letters) until 15 June 2020 electronically summarized in one single PDF document to Virginie Rusca (v.rusca@psychologie.uzh.ch). Interviews are planned to be held in Week 26 (25/06 and 26/06). Applications received afterwards will be considered until the position is filled.
What we offer
We offer an excellent research infrastructure, a broad network in research and practice, opportunities to engage in lectures and progress toward PhD / Habilitation, a modern workplace and a pleasant work atmosphere in a scientific environment together with salary and employment conditions according to cantonal (Zurich) regulations.
The UZH supports equal opportunities. We welcome applications regardless of ethnic, cultural or social background, age, religious belief, ideology, disability, sex, and sexual identity.
Place of work
Oerlikon Campus
Start of employment
Earliest starting date of the positions: 1 August, 2020 for initially 3 years
