Research Assistant – AI Recommendation System

About the role

The University of Marburg’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science is seeking a Research Assistant to join the Ewerth Research Group. The position focuses on research software engineering for a science‑supporting recommendation system that helps journal editors identify suitable reviewers.

Key responsibilities

• Develop high‑performance recommendation algorithms that combine semantic text analysis with bibliometric methods.
• Implement and improve citation‑network and co‑author‑network analyses.
• Evaluate algorithms using established metrics and benchmark datasets.
• Design and implement a REST API and a web interface for editorial teams.
• Prototype and assess database architectures using PostgreSQL and Neo4j in collaboration with the university library (SLUB).
• Document system architecture, API specifications, and technical components for reuse.

Required profile

• MSc degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Information Science or a related field with a good or very good grade.
• Strong interest in machine learning, information retrieval, and scientific publishing workflows.
• Ability to work independently on a fixed‑term research project.

Required skills

• REST API development
• PostgreSQL
• Neo4j
• Semantic text analysis
• Bibliometric and network analysis methods

What we offer

• Full‑time fixed‑term contract (2 years) with public‑service salary (TV‑H E 13) and benefits.
• Opportunity to contribute to a prototype that will be freely available to the scientific community.
• Possibility to use project results for personal academic qualification outside working hours.