PhD Student/ Postdoc Position in Meta-Science

The University of Bern (UniBE) is hiring for a full-time, onsite PhD or Postdoc role in meta-science. The position focuses on evaluating and extending RegCheck, an open-source tool for assessing research quality, within an interdisciplinary international team in Bern, Switzerland.

This position, available at either the PhD or Postdoc level, is designed to advance the field of meta-science through hands-on research and development. The successful candidate will join an international community, benefiting from interdisciplinary collaboration while contributing to the evaluation and expansion of RegCheck, an open-source tool for assessing research quality and trustworthiness.

Responsibilities

• Conducting field trials and studies to assess the real-world effectiveness and usability of RegCheck alongside journal editors.
• Creating and validating new features and extensions for the RegCheck platform.
• Maintaining and contributing to the project's open-source codebase and reproducible analysis workflows.
• Authoring scientific papers and delivering presentations at global academic conferences.
• Engaging in broader research initiatives related to RegCheck and potentially co-supervising student research projects.
• Developing specialized knowledge in large language models and meta-science, with opportunities to engage in additional collaborative research.
• Participating in teaching activities conducted in English and/or German.

Requirements

• A Master's degree or PhD in a relevant discipline such as metascience, psychology, human-computer interaction, medicine, epidemiology, economics, research methods, or statistics.
• Proficiency in R for data management and statistical analysis.
• A solid understanding of how large language models function, along with practical experience using them programmatically (e.g., via APIs) or a strong eagerness to acquire these skills.
• A profound interest in meta-science, open science practices, and the assessment of research trustworthiness and quality management.
• Familiarity with the core principles of open and reproducible research.
• Strong written and spoken English language skills.
• Ability to work effectively in an onsite environment with flexible working hours.

Nice to have

• Prior experience using large language models programmatically (e.g., via APIs) or a strong willingness to learn.

What the company offers

• Competitive compensation: PhD candidates receive approximately CHF 50,000 Gross annually (including a 13th month), while early-career Postdocs earn around CHF 91,000 Gross (including a 13th month). PhD students also hold dual status as employees and enrolled students, with annual student fees of approximately CHF 200.
• A vibrant intellectual environment: Bern is emerging as a global hub for meta-science, with researchers from diverse fields such as psychology, medicine, epidemiology, and economics. The team produces cutting-edge open-source research tools and is dedicated to improving scientific practices.
• Career development opportunities: Access to training in research methods, scientific writing, and university pedagogy. Collaboration with approximately 10 other researchers, postdocs, and faculty members. Teaching experience opportunities are available in English or German. Support for fellowship/grant applications and developing an independent research line.
• Quality of life: Bern is recognized as one of the world's safest cities, with a UNESCO-listed old town, excellent public transport, outdoor recreation, and a lively international academic community. Switzerland consistently ranks highly for quality of life. The department has experience supporting international hires and a streamlined process for residence permit applications (B-permit).
• Diversity & inclusion: The research group is committed to building a diverse team and especially welcomes applications from women and people underrepresented in meta-science and computational social sciences. Flexible working arrangements and support needs can be discussed.

About the company

UniBE is interconnected, fostering an international community where interdisciplinary collaboration thrives. The university is dedicated to advancing research through open science practices and improving the trustworthiness of scientific work.

• Interconnected and interdisciplinary collaboration within an international community.
• Commitment to open science practices and improving research trustworthiness.
• Support for diverse research groups, with a focus on inclusivity for women and underrepresented individuals in meta-science and computational social sciences.