Research Engineer at the Faculty of Social Sciences

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked as one of the world's leading universities. There are approximately 47,000 students and more than 8,800 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We unite in our efforts to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of people.

Lund University welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Gender equality, equal opportunities, and diversity are fundamental principles for all parts of our operations.

The Workplace

At Lund Social Sciences Methods Centre, we work with the application and development of social science research methods. We encourage and grow through interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration. The Methods Centre is organized as an umbrella organization and is based on four pillars: Qualitative Methods, Experimental Methods, Computational Social Science, and Skill School (link (https://www.sam.lu.se/en/research/lund-social-science-methods-centre)).

We Offer

Employees at Lund University receive special benefits, generous vacation, and a favorable pension system. Read more on the university's website about being employed with us via the link link (https://www.lu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss).

Job Responsibilities and Areas of Responsibility

As a research engineer, you will support the faculty's researchers who either have ongoing research projects that include relevant methods or who are interested in developing their methodological skills within the various parts of the Methods Centre. You will be placed at the Faculty of Social Sciences library in Lund, which serves as a hub for support functions related to research and education.

The tasks are varied as they involve supporting research in several ongoing research projects. Part of the work will focus on the Wallenberg Scholar project Gender Struggles in the New Conjuncture, which examines contemporary gender conflicts in Europe by analyzing the interplay between feminist and LGBTQ+ mobilizations and the emergence of anti-gender and far-right movements in a time of democratic decline. A central part of the tasks is to contribute to combining social science theory with quantitative data and AI methods.

You will also participate in various training initiatives, such as courses or workshops aimed at researchers, within computational methods for social science research and data management. These may be held together with various colleagues within the faculty.

Qualifications

Requirements for the position are:

• Social science education at the master's level with a clear quantitative profile, or social science education at the master's level combined with education in quantitative methods, such as from mathematics, systems science, or computer science.
• Good ability to use quantitative analysis tools within one or more of the following methods: statistical methods, geoinformatics (including spatial econometrics), AI methods (e.g., NLP methods – sentiment analysis, topic modeling, discourse analysis), visualization methods, and online data collection (experiments, surveys). Expertise in advanced machine learning techniques and large language models (LLMs) — including web scraping, text extraction, and neural networks — is highly meritorious.
• Very good ability to express oneself in English, both orally and in writing.
• Very good collaborative skills as well as the ability to be goal- and result-oriented.
• The work also requires analytical problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently, structured, and meticulously.
• Interest and ability to learn and apply new methods and working methods is also a requirement.
• You should also have high integrity, motivation, and flexibility in your work.

Desirable for the position are:

• Good programming skills (e.g., R and/or Python).

Other

The position is temporary for one year and concerns 100% of full-time. The planned start date is March 16, 2026, or by agreement.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted via the university's recruitment system. The application should include a CV and a personal letter explaining your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications. A master's thesis in a relevant subject area should be attached. The application should also include degree certificates or equivalent as well as other documents you wish to reference (copies of transcripts, information about referees, recommendation letters, etc.).

Welcome with your application!

Lund University applies individual salary setting. Please indicate your salary expectations in your application.

The Faculty of Social Sciences at Lund University is one of the country's leading knowledge centers for research and education in social and behavioral sciences. With operations in both Lund and Helsingborg, over 700 employees, and about 5,700 full-year students, the faculty is one of the largest at Lund University. We offer a creative academic environment with engaged students and staff. Our main task is to develop, communicate, and manage knowledge about society, humans, and organizations in an environment characterized by openness, tolerance, and curiosity.

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