Research Assistant

About the job

The IFSAR Institute for Social Work and Spaces is part of the Department of Social Work. For the interdisciplinary focus areas "Housing and Neighbourhoods" as well as "Growing Up and Education" we are looking to fill the following position from 1 February 2027 or by arrangement:

Research Assistant (60%)

We are addressing individuals who are enrolled at the St. Gallen location in the Master’s degree programme in Social Work at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, and OST, or who plan to start their studies in the academic year 2027/2028. The position offers the opportunity to gain experience in various service areas of IFSAR alongside the Master’s studies.

The staff at IFSAR are engaged in research and development and provide services for social institutions, administrations, authorities and companies. They are also involved in continuing education and teaching at Bachelor’s and Master’s level.

Research Assistant

Your tasks

• Assisting in the acquisition of new research, development and service projects (e.g. preparing offers and applications)
• Participating in ongoing interdisciplinary research, development and service projects (e.g. data collection and data analysis based on social science methods)
• Supporting transfer products such as presentations, publications, workshops, newspaper articles, etc.
• Conducting research on the thematic areas of the focus topics
• Supporting project management tasks (e.g. preparing minutes, organising project- and focus-related events)
• General collaboration in the IFSAR focus area "Housing and Neighbourhoods"

Your qualifications

• Completed Bachelor’s degree in Social Work
• Ability to independently acquire specialist knowledge and actively apply it in activities
• Capability to work simultaneously in different contexts
• High level of personal responsibility and initiative
• Affinity for qualitative and, if applicable, quantitative social research
• Analytical and conceptual skills
• Very good oral and written communication skills
• Interest in socio-spatial topics, especially related to the focus areas "Housing and Neighbourhoods" and "Growing Up and Education"

We offer

• Opportunity for professional and research-methodological development in a motivated and performance-oriented team
• Varied range of tasks with opportunities for shaping in a dynamic university environment
• Modern employment conditions
• An attractive workplace on the St. Gallen campus, directly at St. Gallen station

Interested?

Have we aroused your interest and do you have the desired qualifications? Then we look forward to receiving your application via our online tool (jobs-ost.ch) by 13 October 2026. For further information, please contact Nicola Hilti, Head of the focus area "Housing and Neighbourhoods", nicola.hilti@ost.ch

Your benefits with us

You can find our benefits on our career page .

About OST

OST - Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences is an intercantonal and international university of applied sciences with locations in Buchs, Rapperswil-Jona and St. Gallen. With excellent Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes as well as continuing education courses up to date, we train future-oriented specialists and executives. In the field of application-oriented research and development as well as services, we are among the leading institutions nationally.

Questions about the application process

Peter Büsser
HR Business Partner
peter.büsser@ost.ch

Subject-specific questions