With more than 6.300 students from 93 countries, the German Sport University Cologne (GSU) is an outstanding university location both nationally and internationally. The GSU stands for proven research with a high volume of third-party funding and research-based as well as international teaching in sports practice and in all social and life science sub-disciplines of sport science. Research, teaching, and transfer are supported by the administration and central operating units with their services.

The German Sport University Cologne is seeking to fill the following position in the Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics at the earliest possible date:

W1 Junior Professorship

Data Science

(with tenure track to W2) (female/male/diverse)

We are looking for an outstanding early-career researcher with research experience in the field of data science.

The research focus of the W1 junior professorship will be on the collection and analysis of multimodal training and movement data, as well as on the development of approaches for analyzing, controlling, and optimizing training in competitive, recreational, and health-related sports. Methodologically, the professorship focuses on the collection, preperation, and analysis of complex datasets, as well as on the application and further development of statistical and machine learning methods in exercise and training science.

The tasks of the professorship include participation in the Bachelor's, Master's, Teacher Training, and Doctoral programmes as well as in the academic self-administration of the university. The German Sport University Cologne pursues the goal of promoting (inter-)disciplinary and cooperative research. Accordingly, participation in joint research activities within the institute and the university as well as the successful acquisition and realisation of third-party funded projects are an integral part of the professorship's remit.

Requirements for employment pursuant to § 36 of the Higher Education Act of North Rhine-Westphalia are:

• Completed university studies
• Ph.D.
• Appropriate pedagogical/educational skills.

Applicants are expected to have

• Relevant international publications in the field of the professorship
• Experience in the application and/or development of machine learning in research
• Strong programming skills
• Experience with various data collection systems and data sources in competitive sports and recreational sports, and/or in prevention and health promotion context
• Proven methodological skills in core areas of computer science and mathematics and in complex statistical inference
• Positively evaluated and/or award-winning teaching
• Interdisciplinary compatibility with existing and developing research projects at the DSHS, e.g., regarding ethical, sociological, or psychological aspects of AI
• Experience in academic self-governance.

Desirable are

• Demonstrable application of research findings in practice
• First successful acquisition of, in particular, competitive third-party funding
• Experience in multidisciplinary collaboration
• Experience in the (further) development of degree programs and/or teaching formats
• Initial experience in staff management and development
• English-language teaching skills
• Experience abroad in academic institutions.

International applicants are expected to be able to offer class instruction in German language within six semesters.

The position is to be filled on a temporary civil service basis for an initial period of three years. Following a positive interim evaluation, an extension for a further three years is envisaged. The position involves a teaching load of 4 SWS in the first phase and 5 SWS in the second phase.

The junior professorship is linked to a tenure track for appointment to a permanent W2 professorship with a teaching load of currently 9 SWS, provided that an evaluation procedure determines that the performance requirements specified for the junior professorship have been met and the other requirements for appointment to a professorship are fulfilled.

The German Sport University Cologne sees itself as an open-minded employer that values diversity. It is committed to diversity and gender equality and welcomes applications that contribute to this – regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, and identity. Increasing the proportion of women in research and teaching is one of the university's strategic goals; qualified female academics are therefore expressly encouraged to apply. Women are given preferential consideration in accordance with the State Equality Act. Severely disabled persons and persons of equal status are very welcome and will be given preferential consideration within the framework of the statutory provisions.

The German Sport University Cologne offers an excellent academic environment, a wide range of professional development programmes, and support in balancing family and career.

Please send your application with the usual documents, in particular a description of your professional career, a list of publications, and a selection of important publications, quoting the reference number 2617-W1-Data Science by 12.07.2026 in the form of a pdf file exclusively to the e-mail address bewerbung@dshs-koeln.de.

Please also visit our homepage www.dshs-koeln.de. There, at www.dshs-koeln.de/datenschutz/, you will also find information on the handling of your personal data transmitted for the purpose of your application.