PhD student in Social sciences and related fields (f/m/d)

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). The institute also maintains locations in Dedelow and Paulinenaue.

The working group Sustainable Land Use in Developing Countries (SusLAND) focusses on the analysis of land use and landscape systems in emerging and developing countries. Based on the analyses, trans- and interdisciplinary research methods are used to develop strategies to mitigate complex problems of farming systems in Global South at local, regional and global scales. Emphasis is placed on questions regarding the avoidance of land use conflicts, the improved adaptation to climate change, food and nutrition security, and the stabilization of the livelihood of family farms.

The offered position is one of three other PhD-positions that are funded through the AQUATRANS project. A strong collaboration with other teams on “Identifying land use practices and crop rotations that help to minimize negative effects on the water cycle” and “Effective collaboration and social learning models for understanding the social factors that can hinder or foster agroecological transitions” is part of this project. The main work site will be at ZALF Müncheberg, but several research stays in Northern Ghana will be required.

We are offering part-time position (65% of regular weekly working hours) temporarily limited until March 31, 2027 at our location in Müncheberg as

Your tasks:

• analysis of enabling social conditions (actors, roles, and interactions) and determinants of applying agroecological practices in Ghana
• identify interconnections (reinforce and balance flows) among hidden and fostering factors of agroecological transition in Northen Ghana
• collaborate with scientists from other disciplines to include social, agronomic and ecological assessments
• analyze secondary data; lead or/ and support farmer surveys, in-depth interviews and workshops
• publish 3 articles about your work in leading scientific journals

Your qualifications:

• master of Science in social sciences, preferable related to environmental issues
• solid skills in community based approaches, systems-thinking methodologies used to address complex, unstructured, or "soft" problems, database techniques and software languages
• good knowledge/experience of social factors, agricultural practices and land-use in Sub-Saharan Africa, esp. Northern Ghana
• ability to travel and work in an interdisciplinary team as well as independently
• strong interest in scientific writing
• as an research institution, located in Germany we require good to very good written and spoken English skills and the willingness to take part in further training as part of the language courses in German offered internally

We offer:

• an interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• classification according to the collective agreement of the federal states (TV-L) up to E13 (including special annual payment)
• a collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• a subsidized public job ticket
• in-house language courses in German and English

Women are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications from severely disabled persons with equal qualifications are favored. The filling of the position in part-time is possible in principle. Please send your application preferably online with the usual documents, in particular CV, proof of qualification and certificates, stating the reference number 135-2023 until 31 January 2023.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Michelle Chevelev-Bonatti, Tel. +49 (0) 33432/82-812, e-mail: michelle.chevelev-bonatti(at)zalf.de .

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.