Postdoctoral position on Adaptation in Agricultural Systems (m/f/d)

The climate needs bright minds. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) addresses crucial scientific questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. It is one of the world's leading research institutions in its field and offers natural and social scientists from around the world an inspiring environment for excellent interdisciplinary research.

For the Research Department 2: Climate Resilience, PIK is offering

(Position number: 18-2024 Postdoc Agriculture)

in the field of agricultural science, agricultural modeling and process-based crop modeling, starting on 01.08.2024.

The position is planned to be funded until the end of the year 2026. Remuneration is in accordance with the German public tariff scheme (TV-L Brandenburg), salary group E 13. This is a full-time position with a weekly working time of 40 hours per week. Appointment is conditional on approval by the funding agency. The position can be filled on a part-time basis.

We are looking for a Postdoctoral researcher to join our team in the field of agricultural adaptation research, using process-based crop models and other techniques to assess adaptation measures for agriculture, mainly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Working together with other researchers, governments, and international organizations primarily in sub-Saharan Africa (with occasional projects also in Asia and Latin America), we aim to transform research into high impact publications and user-oriented climate services and policies that enable end-users in partner countries to better adapt agriculture to climate change. This position will focus on developing adaptation strategies in the agricultural sector; the work is carried out within different third-party funded projects and in cooperation with climate scientists, agricultural modellers and economists.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and improve methodologies for assessing the suitability and effectiveness of adaptation strategies in agriculture, with a focus on LMICs, using process-based crop models.
• Coordinate and contribute to the implementation of research projects through close collaboration with other researchers at PIK as well as the involved stakeholders in the target countries.
• Write and publish articles in peer-reviewed journals that highlight findings from the research projects and present research findings at international conferences.
• Liaise and maintain communication with project donors, responding to information requests, preparing project progress reports and policy briefs.
• Manage projects, develop new project proposals and apply for funding.
• Support in supervising doctoral students and master students.

Requirements:

• You hold a PhD in a field related to tasks above within the broader theme of agriculture. Examples are Agricultural Science, Agricultural Economics, Statistics, Geoscience or related fields with a quantitative, empirical orientation and fundamental parts of agriculture. Knowledge and work experience in tropical agriculture, sustainable development and/or climate impact analysis is valuable.
• You have profound experience in using process-based crop modelling techniques.
• You have expertise in data analysis, with programing skills in R or Python. Experience with other programing languages, GIS and/or remote sensing are valuable.
• Experience in project management, and development of research proposals is valuable.
• Work experience in LMICs is desirable as well as the willingness to travel to these countries.
• You have strong analytical and scientific writing skills, excellent communication skills, and you are fluent in oral and written English. Proficiency in French is an asset.

We expect:

• High interest in teamwork and collaborative research, including supervising PhD students
• High motivation to work on policy-relevant research topics related to sustainable agriculture and development
• The ability to work independently, goal-oriented and on your own initiative
• A methodical and systematic approach
• Willingness to travel for work (project meetings, workshops etc.) and take part in further training

We offer:

• Opportunities for cooperation with PIK’s national and international network of leading climate and agricultural research institutes,
• participation in user-driven research projects with international partners,
• guidance and supervision in career development,
• the chance to be part of a creative and interdisciplinary team,
• a stimulating working environment in an internationally recognised research institute on Potsdam's beautiful, historic Telegrafenberg campus, a short commuting distance from Berlin, flexi-time and mobile working,
• a collective pay scheme and associated benefits as well as a subsidized travel card or the Deutschland-Ticket Job.

PIK values equality and diversity. We encourage applications without photo. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of ethnic and social origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, care responsibilities, or age. PIK seeks to increase the share of women in scientific positions and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. In cases of equal qualification and within the given legal scope, women will be given preference. PIK also encourages applications by parents returning from parental leave.

Please apply by 15.05.2024 directly via our application form below the job advertisement on our website .

If you hold an international higher education qualification, please also submit the Statement of Comparability from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. In the case that you do not yet have a ZAB Statement of Comparability for your qualification, please be aware that you may need to request this if your application is successful. You can find further information on this website: https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education.html

For further information or to discuss the position please contact Dr. Christoph Gornott by phone +49 (0)331-288-2655 or by email gornott(at)pik-potsdam.de .