Job Title:  Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d)

The Department Networks and Data Science at Central European University invites applications for a postdoctoral position within the Horizon project “Networks and the Rule of Law: Uncovering Socio-Economic Outcomes (NET-ROL)” under the supervision of Profs. Janos Kertesz and Mihaly Fazekas. For more information on the project see: https://www.net-rol.eu/

Note: Review of applications starts June 1, 2026 and continues until the position is filled.

Duties and Responsibilities 

Using state-of-the-art data techniques such as causal machine learning and multi-layer network analysis, the project generates original knowledge on causes of rule of law weakening and the impact on socio-economic outcomes such as productivity, inequality, and growth. Within this framework, the postdoc will work on complex analysis of large-scale company datasets, ownership networks, political-business networks, and matched data on the legislative environment. The analysis will concentrate on selected European countries following careful data quality assessment and considering scientific relevance. While the datasets have been collected, data wrangling and matching will be part of the postdoc’s duties in addition to data analysis. The postdoc will also present at academic conferences and contribute to scientific and policy publications.

Qualifications

• Completed or soon-to-be-completed PhD in data science, network science, computational social science or related fields.
• Solid knowledge in network and data science, programming in Python or R, and experience in data wrangling as well as good academic writing, communication, and presentation skills in English are required.
• Knowledge of text mining techniques is a plus.
• Experience working with large scale administrative data, such as company data is an asset.

Strong interest in interdisciplinary research, in particular on corruption, favoritism, rule of law is expected. There are no teaching obligations but opportunities.

What CEU offers

We offer competitive remuneration of 60,000 EUR/year (gross).

The postdoctoral researcher will work in a dynamic, truly international environment as a member of one of Europe’s leading centers in network science and corruption research within a large international project providing opportunities for further scientific interactions. The investigated topics are at the forefront of computational social science giving the young researcher a solid basis for her/his further career.

Vienna has been for years at the top in the list of most livable cities in the world.

Other benefits could be found here.

How to Apply

Kindly submit the following:

• CV
• Motivation letter
• Writing sample best demonstrating suitability for the position
• Name and contact information of two reference persons. Note: they will be contacted and asked to submit their letters of recommendation on an online portal. They should kindly submit these letters before June 1st, 2025.

CEU is an equal opportunity employer and values geographical and gender diversity, thus encouraging applications from women and/or other underrepresented groups. Since CEU strives to increase the share of women in professorial positions, given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female applicants. CEU recognizes that personal and family circumstances shape the trajectory of one’s career and working patterns. As such, and in line with CEU’s promotion of Equal Opportunities, we encourage applicants to detail periods of leave, part-time work or other such situations in their applications so that the Search Committee is able to assess an applicant’s academic record fairly in the context of their circumstances. Any declaration of personal and family circumstances is voluntary and will be handled confidentially and only considered in so far as it impacts on the academic career of an applicant.

About CEU

One of the world’s most international universities, a unique founding mission positions Central European University as both an acclaimed center for the study of economic, historical, social and political challenges, and a source of support for building open and democratic societies that respect human rights and human dignity. CEU is accredited in the United States and Austria, and offers English-language bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in the social sciences, the humanities, law, environmental sciences, management and public policy. CEU enrolls more than 1,400 students from over 100 countries, with faculty from over 50 countries.

In 2019, CEU relocated from Hungary to Austria as the Hungarian government revoked its ability to issue US-accredited degrees in the country. As a result, CEU offers all of its degree programs in Vienna, Austria; and retains a non-degree, research and civic engagement presence in Budapest, Hungary, through its CEU Democracy Institute, the Institute for Advanced Study, the CEU Summer University and The Vera and Donald Blinken Open Society Archives (OSA), and its Hungarian language public educational programs and public lectures.

For more information, please visit https://www.ceu.edu/.