Student Research Assistant (gn) – Plattform #Staatsmodernisierung

We are looking for a Student Research Assistant for the newly established project Plattform #Staatsmodernisierung in part-time (10 hours/week), starting 1 August 2026 and funded by the Bundesministerium für Digitales und Staatsmodernisierung (BMDS).
The contract is planned for 12 months with the possibility of an extension or increase up to 20 hours per week. The successful candidate will work for the new collaborative research-project Plattform #Staatsmodernisierung to support German government´s modernisation agenda and funded by a research grant of the German Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation (BMDS). The project aims to strengthen government capacity and implementation capability for holistic government modernisation in Germany across all levels of government through policy-relevant research at the Hertie School but also through a large broad network of affiliated researchers. The Student Research Assistant will be part of a larger research team and work on research and expertise projects with a focus on government modernisation and be affiliated with the Hertie School’s Centre for Digital Governance.

Various research activities such as:

• Desk research but also conducting interviews on topics of government modernisation  in strong collaboration with the Plattform’s academic director Prof. Dr. Gerhard Hammerschmid;
• Conducting case study based research on government modernisation;
• Contributing (also as co-author) to smaller articles, research reports and policy briefs;
• Participating in meetings and joint events with the Plattform’s research team.

• Currently enrolled as student in (public) management, public administration, public policy or related fields with a clear interest in government modernisation and located in the area of Berlin;
• Initial knowledge of and strong interest in the field of public management / public administration in Germany;
• Experience in conducting empirical research (qualitative or quantitative);
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with experience in writing research reports;
• An excellent command of both German (min. C1 level)  and English.

Please submit your complete application including CV and a motivation letter by using the Apply button below. The application deadline is 31 July 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.