Based in the research group of Prof. Christoph Trebesch and supervised by Dr. Max Deter, the project examines how populist leaders in government undermine democratic institutions and how these actions relate to economic and financial-market outcomes. It builds an event-level database of illiberal actions taken by populist leaders since 1900.

Tasks

Research assistants will work closely with researchers at the Kiel Institute, contributing primarily to the project’s data collection and documentation. Responsibilities include:

• Using large language models and a structured codebook to identify and code illiberal actions from country reports, news archives and academic literature.

• Verifying coded events against original sources, recording supporting quotations and flagging unconfirmed information.

• Compiling, cleaning and harmonising data, including checking for duplicates, inconsistent dates and missing sources.

• Documenting coding decisions, sources and research processes.

• Conducting background research on populist leaders and their institutional contexts.

• Supporting data visualisation and the preparation of papers, presentations, reports and policy briefs.

• Assisting with administrative tasks and the organisation of seminars, workshops and other events.

Requirements:

• Enrolled in a Master’s programme in economics, political science or a closely related quantitative subject at a German university, with the intention to remain enrolled for at least one more year.

• An excellent academic record and strong attention to detail.

• Interest in political economy, particularly populism, democratic backsliding, autocracy and political institutions.

• Careful, critical use of AI tools, including verifying AI-generated claims against original sources and documenting results.

• English proficiency at C1 level or above; German is not required.

• Strong communication and organisational skills, a proactive approach and the ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

• Previous research assistant experience, additional reading languages, Stata or Python skills, and familiarity with Overleaf or Claude Code are advantageous.

• An interest in geoeconomics, international finance or sanctions is a plus.

Offer:

• Location: Berlin, with the possibility of remote work.

• Working hours: Up to 37 hours per month.

• Remuneration: €16.20 per hour for research assistants with a completed Bachelor’s degree.

• Contract: One year, with the possibility of extension.

• Planned start: 1 December 2026.

Applicants must hold EU citizenship or provide a work permit valid throughout the contract.

For further information and application details, please consult the official job announcement.