The Center for Adaptive Rationality directed by Ralph Hertwig at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Berlin) is seeking applicants for a position as Student Research Assistant to assist in a collaborative research project on the communicative role of tour guides as "memory mediators", investigating how collective memory is co-created through interactive communication between guides and tourists in the context of war site tourism in Berlin.

The potential candidate should have a keen interest in participating in fieldwork research in war sites such as “Berliner Unterwelten”, investigating war tourism not only as an act of commemorating the past, but also of reflecting perceptions of ongoing conflicts, such as in Ukraine, Gaza, and beyond.

Enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s program at a German university (Social & Cultural Anthropology, Sociology, History, Media and Communication Studies, Political Science, Psychology or related field).
Strong personal motivation, commitment and ability to work independently.

• Fluency in English & German.

• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills.

• High interest in conducting and transcribing interviews & literature research.

• Familiarity with qualitative data analysis techniques.

• Desired qualifications (not all are necessary to apply):

• Cultural sensitivity & awareness.

• Familiarity with qualitative data analysis such as MAXQDA.

• Past experience with conducting face to face interviews.

• Opportunity to work in an international and interdisciplinary research team.
• Collaboration in a comparative research project between Germany and Japan on the topic of War Site Tourism.
• Hands-on fieldwork experience in a multicultural team of scientists and PhD students, with the open possibility of writing a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis on the topic.

The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity, because diversity, equality, and inclusion enrich our community and promote scientific excellence. We have therefore set ourselves the goal of increasing the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented and employing more people with severe disabilities. With this in mind, we expressly welcome applications from people who are often underrepresented in the workplace due to characteristics such as gender identity, disability, religion, ethnicity, and age. Our website gives you an impression of how we understand and live diversity and what opportunities we offer to respond to your individual needs:
www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/diversity

Please send your application electronically to Mika Toyota (toyota@mpib-berlin.mpg.de) using the subject line “Application Student RA ARC”. Your application should include the following documents in a single PDF document:

(a) a short motivation letter, outlining your research interest and why you think you are suitable for this position
(b) CV without a photo
(c) relevant school/university certificates
d) if available, evidence of academic achievement

Applications will be considered until June 30, 2026.

Here you will find the data protection declaration for the processing of personal data within the scope of your application. https://www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/1589569/en_infos_bewerbung-23-01-17.pdf