Teaching and Research Assistant

The Institute for Retailing & Data Science (RDS) is committed to advancing research and education at the intersection of retailing and data science. As data-driven marketing strategies become increasingly vital for retail businesses - fueled by scalable computational resources and rapid advances in data science methods - our work aims to meet this growing demand.

Our research approach combines cutting-edge data science techniques with deep domain expertise in retail management to support evidence-based decision-making by managers and policymakers. In teaching, we strive to prepare the next generation of marketing professionals to navigate and shape the digital transformation of the retail sector. Because our research addresses timely and widely relevant challenges, we are equally committed to sharing our insights with a broader public audience.

We are looking for a dynamic, self-motivated individual who desires to support us in our daily teaching and research work. You will join a vibrant and ambitious team of internationally minded academics aspiring to the highest standards of research and teaching. We also actively help to learn new technologies and gain experience in the field of data science.

You will support teaching and research activities at our institute, including:

Literature and Communication Tasks

• Help prepare PowerPoint slides, reports, or pitch decks for teaching and research presentations
• Conduct literature reviews and summarize key findings
• Draft summaries, briefs, or overviews of research insights

Data Collection and Management

• Assist with web scraping and automated data collection (e.g., using APIs)
• Monitor data pipelines and perform basic data quality checks
• Configure data backups and maintain documentation for datasets

Analysis and Tools

• Conduct basic statistical analyses using Excel, R, Python, or similar tools
• More advanced analytical tasks (depending on profile)

While we will support your onboarding with our technology stack, you should already have theoretical knowledge or practical experience in the following areas:

Academic and Language Skills

• Ongoing bachelor's or master's studies with at least two semesters remaining before graduation
• Strong academic performance, ideally in marketing, economics, information systems, data science, or statistics
• Excellent command of both German and English
• Organizational and Communication Skills

Ability to organize and structure tasks efficiently

• Proactive mindset and reliable, independent work style
• Strong skills in summarizing academic literature and communicating research insights (e.g., through reports or briefs)

Technical and Analytical Skills

• Proficiency in MS Office (to support the creation of lecture materials and presentations)
• Basic experience with at least one programming language (e.g., Python or R)
• Familiarity with analytical databases (e.g., Clickhouse, BigQuery) or object storage is a plus
• Willingness to learn new tools and technologies (e.g., LaTeX, Git)

Domain Knowledge

• A good understanding of marketing topics - especially in retailing - is an advantage