Research Technologist for the 'Unmasking Supply Chains' Project (3 years, full-time

The project Unmasking Supply Chains: leveraging digital human rights investigations for corporate accountability is looking for a research technologist to support the project team and the Supply Chain Investigations Lab. You will be part of an interdisciplinary research team for a project that sits at the intersection of academic research and human rights-related investigative practice. This position requires a high degree of independence and is open to applicants who hold a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline, a Master's degree and at least 3 years of relevant work experience, or a Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of relevant work experience.

Unmasking Supply Chains is a trans- and interdisciplinary research project conducted in partnership with the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and based at the FAU Chair for Human Rights Politics. The research connects two important areas of transformation in the human rights field: the innovative use of digital open source information for human rights investigations, and the expanding legal frameworks on human rights in supply chains, which offer new pathways towards corporate accountability.

The project team at FAU, consisting of a principal investigator, two doctoral researchers (Law and Political Science) and the technologist (you), will explore the use of open source fact-finding techniques to trace supply chains and critically reflect on the potential and limitations of using open source data and technologies to advance corporate accountability. In addition to traditional academic research, the project team will set up a Supply Chain Investigations Lab at FAU to work with students on digital supply chain investigations.

This position is ideal for someone who wants to use their technical expertise and skills to support efforts to hold corporations to account for human rights abuses and/or environmental harm, while engaging in joint critical reflection on the work with an interdisciplinary team.

Beyond the project, this is an exciting time to join FAU if you have an interest in human rights research. Since January 2026, FAU leads the Excellence Cluster Transforming Human Rights, a multi-year research initiative involving 15 partners from around the globe and four German institutions. You will be able to connect to ongoing research and activities in this international consortium.

You will be hired as a full-time researcher for a period of 3 years in accordance with the German TVL (Collective Agreement for the public service) salary scale (depending on qualifications, up to TVL-E13 at 100%, minimum 4300€ gross per month). We support flexible working hours and allow working from home, but regular in-person attendance at the office is expected and fully remote work from outside Germany will not be possible.

Expected start date: 1 February 2027.

• Regular promotion to the next level and increase in salary pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement for the public service of the German Länder (TV-L) or remuneration pursuant to the Bavarian Public Servants Remuneration Act (BayBesG) plus an additional annual bonus
• 30 days annual leave at five working days per week with additional free days on December 24 and 31
• Occupational pension scheme and asset accumulation savings scheme

• Place of work within comfortable walking distance of public transport
• Family-friendly environment with childcare options, also during school holidays
• Flexible working hours
• Training courses and opportunities for professional development

• Actively participate in the Supply Chain Investigations Lab, working in close collaboration with the doctoral researchers, students, and the principal investigator.
  • Propose, develop, and implement new methods and tools for the Supply Chain Investigations Lab, for example for data collection, processing and analysis. This includes exploring automation and critically-informed use of artificial intelligence in the context of the Lab.
  • Establish and maintain digital security and data protection practices for the Lab.
  • Document the data models, methodologies, and tools developed for the Lab for use by non-technical researchers and students, and maintain this documentation as the Lab's methods evolve.
• Participate in the preparation and implementation of project-related training activities for students and partners, for example on open source investigations.
• Co-develop a training curriculum and research guide on supply chain investigations.
• Present work at academic or non-academic conferences.
• Contribute to project-related outcomes and publications.

• Completed Bachelor degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Computational Social Sciences, or similar and at least 5 years of relevant work experience,
  OR a Master's degree or equivalent in any of the aforementioned subjects and at least 3 years of relevant work experience,
  OR a PhD in any of the…