CED - Postdoctoral Researcher in Survey Methodology (R2) - SINGLE (ERC project)

Organisation/Company

Centre for Demographic Studies (CED)

Research Field

Demography » Other
Sociology » Social changes
Sociology » Other
Geography

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Positions

Postdoc Positions

Country

Spain

Application Deadline

12 Jan 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Brussels)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

37,5

Offer Starting Date

1 Sep 2026

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - ERC

Reference Number

101163333

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

The Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics (CED) is hiring a Postdoctoral Researcher with expertise in survey methodology to join the ERC-funded project, ‘SINGLE – Understanding the Demography and Stratification of Singlehood in Europe’ (PI: Dr. Ariane Ophir, Grant number 101163333). This is a full-time position for three years (with possible extension), based at CED, located just outside Barcelona at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) Campus. 

1. Project Description 

SINGLE is a five-year comparative project exploring the demographic and social dynamics of singlehood across Europe. The project seeks to better understand the opportunities and challenges faced by single adults. It examines the interplay of individual and contextual factors in driving a wide range of demographic, economic, social, and psychological outcomes as well as the mechanisms that generate inequalities among singles, both within and across countries. A central component of the project is the design and implementation of an original cross-national survey in nine European countries, providing a foundation for innovative and comparative social research on singlehood.

2. About the Position

We are seeking an ambitious and motivated postdoctoral researcher who will play a central role in the design and implementation of the multi-country web survey aimed at investigating single people’s lives across Europe from an interdisciplinary perspective. This is a unique opportunity for an early-career postdoc seeking to establish hands-on leadership experience that spans the entire life cycle of a comparative survey. Substantive specialization is open; applicants with expertise in any social science domain relevant to the project are welcome.

Key research responsibilities include:

• Support the development and design of a cross-national web survey, in close collaboration with the PI, external consultants and collaborators, and the contracted survey company
• Contribute to survey design decisions related to sampling, questionnaire structure, and oversee translation procedures etc.
• Lead data quality assessment, data cleaning, and preparation for public dissemination
• Co-author scientific papers using the original survey data
• Take an active part in intellectual life in the CED and the SINGLE project, and participate in the project’s dissemination activities (e.g., scientific conferences, workshops)
• Teaching is not required, but optional via the Barcelona Four Seasons School of Demography  

3. Required Qualifications 

• PhD in Survey Methodology, Demography, Sociology, Statistics or a relevant social science field (PhD requirements should be completed by starting date)
• Formal training and/or experience with survey design, collection, and dissemination  
• Strong statistical and data management skills using Stata/R
• Experience with comparative social research, e.g., analyzing secondary data from cross-national surveys such as  ESS, GGS, SHARE etc.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and motivation to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment 

4. Desired Qualifications (nice to have)

• Proficiency in a European language
• Formal training and/or practical experience with any of the following: (i) cross-national survey methodology, (ii) web surveys, and/or (iii) non-probability sampling methods
• Broad research interests related to family, social stratification, and comparative research
• Familiarity with data depositories and FAIR practices for original data
• Familiarity or interest in survey experiments
• Candidates who are unsure about their fit for the role are encouraged to apply anyway. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide an individual assessment.

5. Salary and Benefits 

• Gross annual salary: €33,660 – €38,610 in accordance with CED’s R2 salary scale (14 payments per year). Net annual calculator for Barcelona is available here
• The position offers full employment benefits in accordance with Spanish labor laws, including healthcare, vacation days, social security etc.
• Work is based in Barcelona, with possibility of two days a week working from home
• Budget for conference and training is available as well as professional development support
• Dedicated time for independent research projects (one day per week)
• Candidates who are unsure about their fit for the role are encouraged to apply anyway. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide an individual assessment.

6. Application Materials 

Interested candidates should submit the following materials inEnglish using this APPLICATION FORM by Monday, 12 January 2026 at 12:00PM (noon), Central European Time (CET). 

• Cover Letter (1 page max.): A motivation letter explaining fit based on the qualifications above
• Academic CV
• Writing Samples: Two samples that demonstrate the candidate’s analytical abilities (e.g., published articles, working papers, dissertation chapters, or technical reports). Ideally, one writing sample should relate to survey methodology, but this is not mandatory. Sole- or first-author works are preferred, if available.  
• References: Names and contact information for two referees that can speak to the candidate’s survey methodology experience (academic or non-academic). CED will contact them directly to request letters only for shortlisted candidates. 

7. Interview and Selection Timeline (tentative)

• Applications will be reviewed after the closing date.
• Interviews will be held online and are tentatively scheduled for late January – early February.
• All applicants will be notified about the outcome of their application by late March.

8. About the Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics (CED)

The Centre for Demographic Studies (CED), is part of the CERCA network (Research Centers of Catalonia), which is located on the campus of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, was founded in 1984 with three basic aims: 1) to promote basic and applied research; 2) teach specific training courses and postgraduate studies; and, 3) disseminate knowledge concerning population in Catalonia by means of publications, seminars and lectures.

The CED is a public consortium with independent legal status directed by Dr. Albert Esteve. It has a Governing Council consisting of representatives from the Generalitat (Government) of Catalonia and its Scientific Advisory Board, by members of recognized prestige (governing bodies). More than sixty people, including researchers and technical and administrative staff, presently work at the CED. Scientific research in CED is organized around three main themes: 1) Families, Inequality and Social Change, 2) Globalisation, Migrations, and Space, and 3) Health and Ageing. 

In July 2015, the CED was awarded the Narcís Monturiol Plaque for Scientific and Technological Merit. These awards were instituted by the Generalitat (Government) of Catalonia in recognition of individuals and entities that made outstanding contributions to science and technology in Catalonia.

9. Equal Opportunities Policy 

CED is committed to the principles of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers of the European Commission and the Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment principles (OTM-R). This is applied for any potential candidate in all our processes, for example by creating gender-balanced recruitment panels and recognizing career breaks etc. CED is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by applicable state or local law. Applications from non-EEA citizens are welcomed. 

10. Contact Information 

For questions, please contact seleccio.persones@ced.uab.es

Website

https://ced.cat/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2.-SINGLE_dem_R202_2025_CALL.pdf

Research Field

Demography

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Sociology

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Geography

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Political sciences

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

• PhD in Survey Methodology, Demography, Sociology, Statistics or a relevant social science field (PhD requirements should be completed by starting date)
• Formal training and/or experience with survey design, collection, and dissemination  
• Strong statistical and data management skills using Stata/R
• Experience with comparative social research, e.g., analyzing secondary data from cross-national surveys such as  ESS, GGS, SHARE etc.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and motivation to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment 

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Demography

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

Research Field

Sociology

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

Research Field

Geography

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

Research Field

Other

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

Website for additional job details

https://ced.cat/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2.-SINGLE_dem_R202_2025_CALL.pdf

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Centre d'Estudis Demografics

Country

Spain

State/Province

BARCELONA

City

Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallès

Postal Code

08193

Street

Campus UAB, Ed E2, can n'Altayó s/n

Geofield

City

Bellaterra

Website

https://ced.cat/en/

Street

Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Edifici E2

Postal Code

08193

E-Mail

seleccio.persones@ced.uab.es

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