Post doctoral Researcher (f/m/d) agricultural economics

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.

Within the frame of the ZALF project " TREES research project on “Forest Landscape Restoration and Good Governance in the Forest sector in the tropics” – Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Togo, Madagascar, in the working group Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries (SusLAND), we offer a part-time position (65% full-time equivalent) from 01.10.2023 until 30.09.2025 for a

Tasks:

• support assessment of impacts of selected FLR strategies and governance models with a focus on the local scale and in interrelation with existing and anticipated policies using data from geospatial maps, existing drone images and ground trothing as well as empirical research (quantitative and qualitative).
• support in applying geospatial maps and drone images to identify positive deviant communities who manage to lower frequency of bushfire for scaling up potential strategies
• support work on ecological survey and modelling trade-offs between forest, soil and water regulatory ecosystem services at landscape level
• support on-going activities incl. socio-economic impact assessments and trade-offs analysis, geospatial analysis of land use change, cross-country comparisons.
• synthesizing existing data and results from the TREES country packages to conceptualize harmonized results of FLR implementation
• day-to-day assistance for the management of the project and collaboration with other researchers and  of the international TREES project consortium, incl. project monitoring and reporting  
• support supervision of Master students
• lead and support publication of high-impact, peer-reviewed research papers for scientific journals and policy briefs

Your qualifications:

• excellent completion of a PhD in the field of agricultural economics, conservation policy, natural resource management, human geography, political ecology, (rural) sociology or related subjects
• good track record of peer-reviewed publications
• good knowledge of remote sensing and GIS, forest assessment, governance analysis
• good knowledge on qualitative and quantitative ecological and socio-economic impact assessment and statistical analysis
• experience in empirical research and managing and conducting fieldwork (preferably in Sub-Sahara Africa)
• ability to coordinate teamwork and interact with a broad range of scientific, policy and practice  stakeholders
• excellent written and oral command of English and French; ideally also German
• openness to travel in Germany and to partner countries (short term stays)

We offer:

• classification according to the collective agreement of the federal states (TV-L) up to E 13 (including special annual payment)
• an interdisciplinary, cooperative forward looking working environment that integrates scientific excellence with societal relevance
• an open-minded working atmosphere in an international, diverse and dynamic research team
• room for scientific maneuver and support in career development
• well established national and international scientific networks
• a rural landscape environment with high recreation value that is just a 45 min train ride from Berlin
• mobile work of max. 40% of monthly working time is possible given reconciliation with project requirements
• company ticket

Women are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications from severely disabled persons with equal qualifications are favored. It is generally possible to work in the position on a part-time basis. Please send your application preferably online with the usual documents, in particular motivation letter, CV, proof of qualification, certificates and full transcripts, stating the reference number 65-2023 until 09 July 2023.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Dr. Katharina Löhr, Email: katharina.loehr(at)zalf.de ,  Tel. +49 (0) 33432/82-445.

For cost reasons, application documents or extensive publications 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.