Research Assistant

**Department of Political Science**
**Research Assistant / Hilfsassistent:in Position in Database Management 20 %**: Start of employment 01.02.2025, temporary

This position is part of an SNF-funded research project focused on developing new methods and metrics to assess political performance in the Swiss Parliament. The goal is to create reliable, unbiased measures that evaluate whether politicians fulfill their election promises, how they engage in parliamentary work, and how they represent their constituents. The project utilizes the DemocraSci knowledge graph, a Neo4j graph database that spans over 130 years of parliamentary activity, meticulously curated by our team.

**Your responsibilities**:

- The hired student will assist with the project by creating intermediary databases, developing new methods for cleaning and linking data, and supporting various coding tasks. Additionally, the student will help develop novel computational methods for assessing political performance, contribute to software package development, and assist in creating scientific visualizations. Strong programming skills in Python and experience with databases are a must.

**Your profile**:

- The position is ideal for more senior BA or MA students with a computer science (or comparable) background.

Applicants for this position should meet the following requirements:

- Student at University Zurich or ETH Zurich (computer science, data science, engineering, economics and social sciences, mathematics or natural sciences)
- Good coding skills in Python
- NLP skills
- Experience with scientific visualizations is a plus
- Good command of German is a plus but not a must

**What we offer**
- Working in an interesting, cutting-edge project together with an interdisciplinary team of researchers
- Gaining experience working in an academic research project
- A workspace at the Department of Political Science and a workspace at the Swiss Data Science Center of ETH Zürich (both in Oerlikon).

The starting date for the position is February 1, 2025, or by agreement.

**How to apply**
- A short motivation letter detailing your coding experience
- CV
- A coding example you are proud of (including code snippets, outputs, visualizations)

**What we offer**:
**Work-Life Balance**
- Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing)
- Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH

**Learning and Development**
- Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich
- Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich

**Food**
- Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias
- Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution

**Healthcare**
- Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ
- Free seasonal flu vaccinations
- Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower

**Discounts**
- Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space
- Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions
- Special conditions on hotel reservations

**Conditions of Employment**
- Policies of the UZH
- Most UZH staff are employed according to public law

**International Services**
- Support for people from outside Switzerland

**Campuses**
- Campuses Zurich City, Zurich Irchel, Oerlikon and Schlieren
- Sites Zurich West, Old Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden and Lengg

**Location**:
**Department of Political Science***:Affolternstrasse 56, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland

**Further information**:
**Questions about the job**:
**Dr. Laurence Brandenberger**
- Postdoc

**Susanne Arlt**
- Personalverantwortliche
- 044 634 39 19

**Working at UZH**: