Two Research Assistant/PhD student positions

I am hiring two research assistants/PhD students for the new Geography of Code research group I am founding at Corvinus University of Budapest.

The group's aim is to explain how the digital economy is changing the nature of work, and what consequences that has for different places around the world. More specifically, we study how skilled workers collaborate and move around, and what consequences this has for the spread of new technologies and ideas, including AI. To do so we study software developers and their careers, using data from platforms like GitHub and LinkedIn, and methods from network science, economics, and NLP.

The positions

I am looking for two people who wish to write a PhD with me in this context. If you are looking for a postdoctoral position, look here.

Timing

The positions are available from December 1st, 2026, but can also be started later.

Conditions

I would hire you as a research assistant, then support your application to a local PhD program (likely Business Informatics or Economics), aiming to start the program in Fall 2027.

• Full-time (40h/week), 700,000 HUF gross/month, to be adjusted upon entrance to the PhD program.
• In case you are working on a masters you can start at 20h/week for 400,000 HUF gross/month, and move up once you graduate.

You

You should be interested in using computational methods to study social scientific questions. Some experience in coding, modeling, and data wrangling is essential. Experience with more specialized topics like networks, econometrics, databases is useful. Interest in agentic and generative AI is a plus.

Perks

• Community: Help me build a new research group embedded in a growing research ecosystem at Corvinus, working side by side with colleagues from the Center for Collective Learning and the ANETI Lab.
• Data: Access one of a kind data at large scales.
• Computing resources: Use servers and AI subscriptions in your work.
• Location: Take a desk at the Corvinus Institute of Advanced Study in central Budapest. Includes free coffee.
• Conference travel: Use a dedicated budget to present your work internationally.

How to apply

Send the following to johannes.wachs@corvinus.hu:

1. Your CV.
2. A maximum two page letter of motivation
3. Contact details for two references

International candidates are very welcome. The working language of the group is English; no Hungarian required.