The mission of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver solutions for an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society. ZALF is a member of the Leibniz Association and is located in Müncheberg (approx. 35 minutes by regional train from Berlin-Lichtenberg). It also maintains a research station with further locations in Dedelow and Paulinenaue.
The ZALF project Prep-LL aims to establish the basis for a regional network of living labs (LL) to support the co-innovation and co-design for sustainable agricultural landscapes. It will investigate societal targets for sustainable agricultural production systems and promote the respective transformation in the landscape context. The project is designated to developing a comprehensive concept of a network of LL. It will develop the necessary knowledge and structural basis to support its initial implementation. The existing ZALF crop diversification on-farm experiment
patchCROP will serve as a specific nucleus case for one LL within a set of at least three pilot cases forming an initial LL network.
Within this project we are pleased to announce a position starting 15
th Sept or at the earliest possible date for a
Postdoctoral researcher for
Participatory Modelling in Living Labs in Agricultural Landscapes (m/f/d)
[Reference N° 50-2021]
Your tasks:
- Developing a conceptual framework for the use of model based knowledge in co-design processes in LL
- Deriving recommendations for future research structures and research questions in the context of transdisciplinary research in Living Labs for sustainable agricultural landscape management
- Developing a concrete use case of participatory modelling including the patchCROP demonstration case
- Publication of respective journal papers and internal reports
Your qualifications:
- Experience in and motivation to work in a transdisciplinary research setting, within an interdisciplinary team
- Proven experience in participatory research
- Profound knowledge about integrated socio-ecological systems and multi agent systems modelling
- Academic background and substantial experience in the field of agricultural sciences from natural and socio-economic science perspectives; background in spatial science is of advantage
- Good knowledge of current scientific and policy debates in sustainable development of agricultural systems
- Fluency in German language, preferably C2-level
What we offer:
The project is led by Prof. Frank Ewert and supported by the directorate. Depending on the specific candidate profile the position will be allocated in the directorate or a working group of the
“Agricultural Landscape Systems”. The successful candidate will closely collaborate with working groups with modelling activities and transdisciplinary research and be supported by services of the
Research Platform Data and Simulation. ZALF will further ensure that all Prep-LL team-members can closely work together.
The successful candidate will be offered a full-time contract. It is generally possible to work in the position on a part-time basis. Salary will follow the guidelines for public employees according to the German TV-L level of E13, including special annual payment. The position is initially limited to 3 years until 31st Aug. 2024. An extension with a second project phase is aspired. The working place is in Müncheberg near Berlin, Germany. Mobile work of max. 40% of monthly working time is possible given reconciliation with project requirements. ZALF offers individual options for career development such as financial support for trainings and coaching as well as variable options to access scientific resources.
ZALF is an equal opportunities employer (audit berufundfamilie® certificate) and specifically encourages female scientists to apply. Applications of disabled applicants with equal qualifications will be favoured.
Application and candidate selection
Application documents should include a cover letter addressing your fit to the position, a comprehensive CV, proof of qualification and certificates, contacts for reference (no reference letters required). Please send your application as a single PDF file (max. 5 MB; packed PDF documents, archive files like zip, rar etc. Word documents cannot be processed and therefore cannot be considered!) to
Bewerbungen@zalf.de, stating the reference number 49-2021. The deadline for applications is
18th July 2021.
If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact
Katharina Brüser (
brueser@zalf.de, Tel. +49 (0) 33432/82-4092).
For cost reasons, any application documents can only be returned if an adequately stamped envelope is attached.
If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR only for the processing of your application and for purposes that result from possible future employment with the ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months.
You can find further information at:
www.zalf.de/en/ueber_uns/Pages/Datenschutzerklaerung.aspx