Postdoc to conduct research on personality, self-knowledge, and moral behavior

The Independent Research Group “Personality, Identity, and Crime” at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany is seeking to recruit a Postdoc in Psychology (f/m/div) to conduct research on personality, self-knowledge, and moral behavior.
We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher in psychology with an interest in personality and individual differences, self-knowledge, and (im)moral behavior. You will work with a young, international, and highly dedicated team of researchers striving to conduct innovative, theory-driven, and transparent research using a diverse spectrum of methodology, including lab and web experiments and intensive data collection in daily life.

The challenge

The understanding of individual differences in moral vs. immoral behavior is of perennial interest within the social sciences and beyond. Critically, however, the study of individual differences in the (im)moral domain lacks integration, as research on moral behavior has to a large extent been conducted separately from research on immoral behavior (and vice versa). This is particularly striking given that certain personality traits account for individual differences in both moral and immoral behavior. Our research therefore seeks to answer questions such as: (1) What is the joint personality basis of moral and immoral behavior, and what is unique to these behavioral classes, if anything? (2) Are the same psychological processes driving the influence of personality on moral vs. immoral behavior? (3) How does the situation influence the expression of personality in moral vs. immoral behavior?

Another issue we aim to address refers to positive behavior change in the moral domain. The dominant approach to promoting moral behavior is situational in nature, for example, rewarding moral actions and sanctioning immoral actions. Critically, not only can such situation-based interventions fail or even backfire; they also consider only one side of the coin – the situation – while neglecting the other: the individual. As part of the ERC Starting Grant Project “KNOW-THYSELF: Increasing Self-Knowledge to Promote Moral Behavior” (see https://csl.mpg.de/en/rg-projects/know-thyself?c=389917), we aim to pursue a new, person-centered approach that builds on increasing self-knowledge about morality-related characteristics to promote moral behavior across multiple contexts and to facilitate long-term changes in the personality traits underlying moral action.

The postdoc will work on these and related questions within the research group.

Your profile

• you have a PhD in psychology or related field;
• you are strongly interested in personality research;
• you have relevant experience in publishing in psychology journals;
• you have relevant experience in conducting surveys and experiments and in data analysis using R;
• you are a team player: you value team work and enjoy enhancing the work of others and supporting (junior) scientists;
• you have excellent social and communication skills;
• you have excellent written and spoken English language skills;
• you are committed to open science and transparent research practices.

Speaking German is an asset but not a requirement.

About us

The Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law (MPI-CSL) is a recently established European center for research in criminology, public security matters, and criminal law. The Institute is part of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science – Germany’s flagship science organization.

The Independent Research Group “Personality, Identity, and Crime” headed by Dr. Isabel Thielmann works towards increasing the understanding of the interplay between self-perception, other-perception, identity, and behavior in the context of moral vs. immoral behavior (for more information, see https://csl.mpg.de/research-groups/personality-identity-and-crime). We are part of the Department of Criminology (Director: Prof. Dr. Dr. Jean-Louis van Gelder), which offers a highly interdisciplinary and dynamic research environment in which psychologists, sociologists, mathematicians, criminologists, and computer scientists work together to understand the causes and consequences of criminal and related behavior.

The Institute, with its approximately 150 employees, is located in Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany), a dynamic university city with a 900-year history. The city in the trinational border region (Germany, Switzerland, and France) impresses newcomers with its high quality of life and international flair. Freiburg ranks third on Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel 2022” list of the top ten city destinations in the world.

The offer

The Institute offers unrivalled research conditions, including access to top-notch laboratory facilities as well as access to exceptional specialist libraries and databases, excellent workspaces, and comprehensive administrative and academic support. Collaboration with other researchers and international partners at the Institute is a key element of our work. Additionally, there are many opportunities for researchers to design, convene, or participate in workshops, seminars, and conferences.

The position is available from the earliest possible starting date and limited to two years. It is a fully funded research position with no teaching obligations. The position is full-time (currently 39 hours/week). Remuneration and social benefits are based on the German Civil Service Collective Agreement (TVöD Bund), pay category 13 or 14 (entry level depending on prior experience), 100% (see https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/tvoed/bund/). The salary includes all mandatory social insurance contributions for health care, long-term care, unemployment, and retirement. The workplace is Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany). We are committed to ensuring a positive work-life balance and offer flexible work options as well as generous opportunities for personal and professional development.

The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunity employer and supports diversity in the workplace. Applications from disabled persons are welcome. We also aim to increase the percentage of female staff in fields in which they are underrepresented and therefore expressly encourage women to apply. Applications are particularly welcome from persons with backgrounds that have so far been underrepresented in science and research with regard to

gender, age, professional and cultural background, family situation, sexual orientation, and nationality.

Your application

To apply, please submit your application with the following documents:

• a cover letter including your research interests and your relevant work experience;
• your CV including a list of publications;
• up to three publications you consider your best or most relevant for the position;
• name and email address of two scholars who can serve as a reference.

Please submit your application via our online application portal: https://csl.mpg.de/en/career.
The deadline for applications is September 1, 2023.
For further information, please contact Dr. Isabel Thielmann (i.thielmann@csl.mpg.de) or Dr. Annika Hampel, Recruitment Officer (a.hampel@csl.mpg.de).