Academic Position (Postdoctoral Level)
(Full-time or part-time 50 %, E 13 TV-L)
Reference no.: 2026/100
The position is to be filled by October 1st, 2026 or later and is initially limited to four years. In principle, this position can be divided into two part-time positions. An extension is being sought.
The University of Konstanz is a dynamic and internationally successful research university with approximately 10,000 students. The campus university’s architecture promotes interdisciplinary cooperation and a sense of community among researchers, lecturers and students. The University of Konstanz has been continuously funded by the German Excellence Strategy since 2006.
The Normativity Lab (Developmental Psychology research group) at the Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, investigates infants’ and children’s social-cognitive development, broadly construed. In particular, we explore the developmental origins of human cooperation, norms, and morality. Moreover, we are interested in the role of (social-)cognitive and motivational processes in the ontogeny of normativity. Empirical methods include, inter alia, interview techniques, interactive behavioral paradigms, and implicit measures (e.g., eye-tracking).
Your Responsibilities
- Contribute to the research projects within our theoretical framework
- The Postdoctoral researcher will have the opportunity to develop a distinct line of research within the broad theme of thegroup
- Use and further development of innovative experimental child research methods
- Teaching responsibilities (4 semester hours per week, full-time position)
- (Co-)supervision of Bachelor and Master projects, student assistants
- Active support in acquisition and recruitment of study participants and further organizational tasks in the research group
Your Competencies
- Excellent or very good PhD in psychology or a related discipline (e.g., cognitivescience)
- Strong background in basic developmental or cognitive science research
- Experience in planning and conducting experimental research (e.g., eye-tracking, interactive behavioral methods) with infants and/or children is advantageous
- Profound knowledge in relevant statistical methods (mixed effects models, longitudinal data analysis), experience with R desirable
- Excellent German language skills, very good English language skills are desirable
- Independent, flexible, and thorough way of working, strong commitment, strong communication and cooperation skills
We Offer
- An open, highly motivated, interdisciplinary research group
- Research on central questions about the ontogeny of social cognition and action
- Research within a theoretical framework at the intersection of natural/social sciences and humanities
- Use of innovative developmental research methods (e.g., eye tracking, pupil dilation, interactive behavioral and interview methods)
- Working and living in a fabulous environment
- Classification according to the tariff regulations of TV-L (depending on the personal prerequisites up to pay group 13 TV-L)
For more information on our research, please visit our website https://www.psychologie.uni-konstanz.de/en/schmidt/research/researchfoci/. For questions, please contact Marco F. H. Schmidt (subject line: “Postdoc Konstanz”), marco.schmidt@uni-konstanz.de.
We look forward to receiving your application (including a full CV, a copy of the PhD thesis, a brief research statement relating your interests to the research program of our group, and names and e-mail addresses of three academic referees) by May 13th, 2026 via our Online Application Portal.
The University of Konstanz is committed to ensuring an environment that provides equal opportunities and promotes diversity, as well as a good balance between university and family life. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to increase the number of women working in research and teaching. We also support working couples through our dual career programme. Persons with disabilities are explicitly encouraged to apply. They will be given preference if appropriately qualified (contact sbv@uni-konstanz.de, + 49 7531 88-4016).
