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The Department of Psychology at the University of Münster, Germany (working unit Psychological Assessment and Personality Psychology aka „BackLab“; head: Prof. Dr. Mitja Back) is seeking to fill the position of a

Doctoral Research Associate (salary level E 13 TV-L, 75% FTE)

**This is a fixed-term part-time position (75%) for 3 years. The teaching load is 3 SWS (i.e. 3 semester contact hours per week during the teaching period). The position is associated with the completion of a doctoral research project.

The “BackLab” investigates social interaction processes and the dynamic interplay between personality and social relationships (). The position is intended to strengthen research in one or more of the following areas:

• Analysis of social behavioral differences across species
• Formal modelling of personality differences in social interaction and communication
• Personality dynamics, person–environment interactions, and well-being**

Your tasks:

• Planning, coordinating and carrying out research projects in one or more of the topic areas listed above, including the preparation and organisation of data collection and the statistical analysis of existing and newly collected datasets
• Writing English-language journal articles
• Teaching 3 SWS per semester in the area of personality psychology and/or psychological assessment

Our expectations:

• By the time of appointment, you must hold a scientific university degree (typically a Master’s degree, Diplom, or equivalent degree) in psychology or in another discipline clearly related to the research areas described above.
• We expect very good methodological knowledge and skills, as well as a strong interest in developing expertise in advanced methods of data collection, modelling and data analysis (e.g., automated video-based behavioural measurement; social sensing; formal mathematical modelling of interaction dynamics and personality differences; machine learning; large language models; multilevel structural equation modelling).
• Very good written and spoken English is required.
• Initial publication experience in international journals is an advantage, but not required.
• We expect strong teamwork, communication and organisational skills, as well as a reliable and committed way of working.

What we offer:

• Collaboration in a cooperative and dynamic research team
• Close supervision and tailored support in sharpening your research profile and advancing your academic career
• Excellent research infrastructure for experimental and correlational laboratory studies (including interaction video labs), field studies (including infrastructure for smartphone based experience sampling), and survey studies (including access to representative panel studies)
• The opportunity to analyse existing large-scale multimethod datasets
• Integration into national and international scientific networks and participation in national and international conferences
• Support from researchers with extensive experience in successfully publishing research findings and promoting early-career researchers

The University of Münster and the BackLab value transparent and reproducible research and support these goals through open data, open code and open materials, as well as preregistrations and Registered Reports. The principles represented and promoted in the Commitment for Research Transparency () set out standards for transparency and quality in research.

The University of Münster strongly supports . We welcome all applicants regardless of sex, nationality, ethnic or social background, religion or worldview, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. We are committed to creating family-friendly working conditions.

We actively encourage applications by women. Women with equivalent qualifications and academic achievements will be preferentially considered unless these are outweighed by reasons which necessitate the selection of another candidate.

The application deadline is 2026-06-14.

We look forward to receiving applications from qualified and interested candidates. Please send your application as one single PDF document (LASTNAME_PhD_2026.pdf) by email directly to Professor Dr. Mitja Back at .

Your application should include:

• 1. a letter outlining your research interests and motivation,
• 2. a tabular CV, and
• 3. relevant degree certificates and academic transcripts, in particular
• proof of your university entrance qualification (e.g. the German Abitur or an equivalent school-leaving qualification), and
• your Bachelor’s and Master’s degree certificates (or Diplom certificate).

If you have any questions about the position, please also contact Professor Dr. Mitja Back at +49 251 83-34122 or

Reference number: 2026_04_18