Research Assistant/Associate

The successful candidate will be employed under a regular employment contract.

The position is to be filled by 2/1/2026 and offered for a fixed term of 48 months (4 years).

The fixed-term employment is possible as it constitutes one of the fixed-term options of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (German Act on Fixed-term Scientific Contracts).

This is a part-time position (75 % of the standard weekly hours for full-time employees).

The successful candidate has the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in this position.

The salary is based on the German public service salary scale (TV-L).

The position corresponds to a pay grade of EG 13 TV-L.

At the Teaching and Research Area Work and Engineering Psychology, we conduct research at the intersection of human cognition, technology, and the environment. Our work is characterized by the interplay between basic and applied research. We are an interdisciplinary team of approximately ten members who collaborate in an open, cooperative, and dynamic working environment across research and teaching. The impact of the acoustic environment on human cognition and experience is one of our three main research areas, and the advertised PhD position is embedded within this focus.

The position is part of the DFG-funded project "Bilingual Flexibility: The Impact of Background Language on Verbal Performance and Situational Language Balance", which is embedded in the DFG Research Unit "Bilingual Flexibility – The Psychology of Language Control." It is a joint project with the Teaching and Research Area of Biological and Social Psychology (Prof. Dr. Anna K. Kuhlen, RWTH Aachen University). The subproject located at the Teaching and Research Area of Work and Engineering Psychology (Prof. Dr. Sabine J. Schlittmeier) focuses on the cognitive effects of background speech on verbal performance (e.g., short-term memory, reading, text production) in bilingual individuals. Bilinguals frequently encounter environments in which multiple known languages coexist, such as workplaces or social settings. In such contexts, they may perform tasks in one language while being exposed to background speech in another familiar language.

• You hold an excellent university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Psychology, Cognitive Science, or a related discipline.
• You have solid knowledge in experimental psychology and very good written and spoken German and English language skills (at least C1), since the project will use connected sentences and texts as stimulus material.
• You demonstrate a careful and structured approach to work, the ability to work independently, and enjoy working in an interdisciplinary environment.

• You will plan, conduct, and analyze experimental studies with adult participants as part of the project. In addition, you will present results at scientific conferences and publish them in international peer-reviewed journals.
• You will also regularly participate in meetings and workshops of the Research Unit and contribute actively to the scientific development of the project.
• You will be working in close collaboration with colleagues at LuF and project partners in the DFG research group.

RWTH is a certified family-friendly University. We support our employees in maintaining a good work-life balance with a wide range of health, advising, and prevention services, for example university sports. Employees who are covered by collective bargaining agreements and civil servants have access to an extensive range of further training courses and the opportunity to purchase a job ticket.

RWTH is an equal opportunities employer. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, particularly from groups that are underrepresented at the University. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability or age. RWTH is strongly committed to encouraging women in their careers. Female applicants are given preference if they are equally suitable, competent, and professionally qualified, unless a fellow candidate is favored for a specific reason.

As RWTH is committed to equality of opportunity, we ask you not to include a photo in your application.

You can find information on the personal data we collect from applicants in accordance with Articles 13 and 14 of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) at .

EG 13 TV-L