Update: deadline extended by two weeks for the Ecology PhD position, even though university link may not work.
DEADLINE 20 SEPTEMBER — please help distribute this!
We have five PhD and postdoc positions to fill in the ecological and social sciences. The five job ads can be found on our university homepage. I copy and paste key details of the advertisements here. Details on the project can be found here.
1 – Postdoc
Leuphana University of Lüneburg (foundation under public law), Faculty of Sustainability, has a vacancy for a full-time (100 %)
Post-Doc Project Coordination
and scientific social-ecological integration (m/f/d)
(salary group EG 13 TV-L)
as soon as possible with 100% of the regular weekly working time of a full-time employee (subject to approval) limited until 30.10.2024.
Background:
The position is part of the BMBF-funded third-party project Grassworks: What works and why in grassland restoration in Germany? A multi-region social-ecological assessment and pilot implementation of successful approaches. Grassworks is part of the Research Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation FEdA and is implemented as part of a research consortium on grassland restoration that includes six partner institutions. This position is one of five positions in the Grassworks project at Leuphana University Lüneburg.
The Grassworks project includes the perspectives ecology, social science, economics, governance, and restoration practice to investigate how grassland restoration can be successfully implemented in Germany. Grassworks follows an inter- and transdisciplinary approach with strong disciplinary expertise and social-ecological integration and synthesis. The project works in three project regions (North, Central, South); in each project region, previously restored grassland will be studied in a post-hoc analysis (focus on ecology) and a living lab with restoration demonstration plots will be established and studied (focus on social sciences).
The researchers at Leuphana will work in the project region North and will also be responsible for the disciplinary and social-ecological integration of the results. For more information on the project, please visit https://www.leuphana.de/en/institutes/institute-of-ecology/team/vicky-temperton/grassworks.html and https://www.feda.bio/de/wissenschaft/projekte/grassworks/.
The PostDoc position “Project coordination and scientific social-ecological integration” is responsible for the organisational and content-related project management, as well as for the social-ecological integration of the results with regard to potential transformation pathways for grassland restoration. The aim is to use about 50% of ones working hours for coordination and 50% for scientific work. The successful applicant will analytically integrate the empirical results from the living labs and other work packages based on the concept of leverage points. Based on these findings, the successful applicant will further develop the findings on interventions and leverage points into concrete social-ecological transformation paths that can impact future developments of grassland restoration. The successful applicant is mentored by Prof. Dr. Vicky Temperton, Prof. Dr. Berta Martin-Lopez and Prof. Dr. Jörn Fischer, all of whom have many years of experience in analysing and interpreting data from a social-ecological perspective.
The coordination activities include the preparation and follow-up of the various project meetings and events, communication with the consortium partners, with the project executing organisation and colleagues of Leuphana University Lüneburg from other research groups and the administration. In addition, the activities include building and maintaining a network, and outreach in the sense of science communication.
The position is embedded in the collaboration of the entire consortium and is based in the research group of Prof. Vicky Temperton at the Institute of Ecology at Leuphana, an international team committed to basic and applied research in ecology.
Your tasks:
- Organisational and content coordination of the work in the project with the consortium partners and the project executing organisation
- Collaboration on project reports
- Collaboration in the conceptual and organisational preparation of internal project meetings, transdisciplinary workshops and the final conference
- Scientific integration of the different work packages from a social-ecological perspective and, based on this, the development of potential transformation pathways
- First or co-authorship of several scientific publications
- Networking and outreach, including responsible collaboration on a film on restoration success and potential transformation pathways, possibly setting up and maintaining a blog or similar formats
Your profile:
- Completed academic university studies (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, geography, human ecology or related disciplines with a focus on ecology/social ecology/sustainability.
- A completed PhD in natural sciences, sustainability sciences or social sciences related to ecological issues and ideally further work experience in research, e.g. in transdisciplinary projects.
- Very good German and English skills both written and spoken are required and knowledge of EU agri-environmental programs (AEMs; AUKM) or local nature conservation legislation is an advantage.
- Experience in publishing research results in peer-reviewed journals and general research reports.
- Experience in science communication is a plus.
We offer:
- A dedicated team with strong experience in biodiversity research, restoration and conservation, ecology, social ecology
- Flexible and family-friendly working hours
- Internal and external training courses
- University sports and health-promoting measures for employees
- Company pension plan
For questions regarding the content of the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Vicky Temperton (vicky.temperton@leuphana.de).
2 – PhD position
Leuphana University of Lüneburg (foundation under public law), Faculty of Sustainability at the Institute of Ecology and the Institute of Social Ecological Systems (SESI), has a vacancy for a part time (65 %)
Research Associate (m/f/d)
Social Science
(salary group EG 13 TV-L)
as soon as possible, with 65% of the regular weekly working time of a full-time employee (subject to approval) limited until 30.10.2024. This qualification position, which is financed by third-party funds, is remunerated according to EG 13 TV-L and offers the possibility to complete a PhD.
Background:
The position is part of the BMBF-funded third-party project Grassworks: What works and why in grassland restoration in Germany? A multi-region social-ecological assessment and pilot implementation of successful approaches. Grassworks is part of the Research Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation FEdA and is implemented as part of a research consortium on grassland restoration that includes six partner institutions. This position is one of five positions in the Grassworks project at Leuphana University Lüneburg.
The Grassworks project includes the perspectives ecology, social sciences, economics, governance and restoration practice to investigate how grassland restoration can be successfully implemented in Germany. Grassworks follows an inter- and transdisciplinary approach with strong disciplinary expertise and social-ecological integration and synthesis. The project works in three project regions (North, Central, South); in each project region, previously restored grassland will be studied in a post-hoc analysis (focus on ecology) and a living lab with restoration demonstration plots will be established and studied (focus on social sciences). The researchers at Leuphana will work in the project region North and the PostDocs in the team will also be responsible for the disciplinary and social-ecological integration of the results. For more information on the project, please visit https://www.leuphana.de/en/institutes/institute-of-ecology/team/vicky-temperton/grassworks.html and https://www.feda.bio/de/wissenschaft/projekte/grassworks/.
This PhD student (supervised by Prof. Dr. Berta Martín-López, Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Loos) will work under the guidance of the PostDoc Social Science mainly in the living lab of the project region North. Empirical work will include, among others, interviews on the status of grassland restoration in the living lab, online surveys, network analysis, interviews on relational values of nature/biodiversity and definitions of restoration success. The successful applicant will also support making and maintaining contacts with transdisciplinary partners and support workshops in the living lab. The PhD student will maintain close contact with other PhD students in the project, especially other social scientists.
The position is embedded in the collaboration of the entire consortium and is based in the working groups of Prof. Berta Martín-López in the Social-Ecological Systems Institute and Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Loos in the Institute of Ecology, two international teams committed to social-ecological research.
Your tasks:
- Conduct social science field work (including interviews, questionnaire surveys) in the living lab North
- Data analysis, also with regard to the role of relational values for restoration measures and transformation towards stronger nature protection activities
- Research within the framework of and participation in the transdisciplinary cooperation in the living-lab North
- Cooperation within the project, especially with the parallel positions in the project regions Central and South, also with regard to a social-ecological development of grassland restoration.
- Co-supervision of B.Sc. and M.Sc. final theses
Your profile:
- Completed scientific university studies (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, political sciences, human ecology or geography or related disciplines with a focus on sustainability.
- Very good German and English skills, both written and spoken, are required.
- Experience in transdisciplinary research is an advantage.
We offer:
- A dedicated team with a lot of experience in the field of biodiversity, nature conservation, and social-ecological systems.
- Flexible and family-friendly working hours
- Internal and external training courses
- University sports and health-promoting measures for employees
- Company pension plan
For questions regarding the content of the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Berta Martín-López (martinlo@leuphana.de) and Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Loos (jacqueline.loos@leuphana.de).
3 – Postdoc
Leuphana University of Lüneburg (foundation under public law), Faculty of Sustainability in the Institute of Ecology at the professorship “Ecosystem Functioning and Services”, has a vacancy for a full-time (100 %)
Post-Doc Social Science (m/f/d)
Social Ecology (PostDoc)
(salary group EG 13 TV-L)
as soon as possible with 100% of the regular weekly working time of a full time employee (subject to approval) limited until 30.10.2024.
Background:
The position is part of the BMBF-funded third-party project Grassworks: What works and why in grassland restoration in Germany? A multi-region social-ecological assessment and pilot implementation of successful approaches. Grassworks is part of the Research Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation FEdA and is implemented as part of a research consortium on grassland restoration that includes six partner institutions. This position is one of five positions in the Grassworks project at Leuphana University Lüneburg.
The Grassworks project includes the perspectives ecology, social science, economics, governance and restoration practice to investigate how grassland restoration can be successfully implemented in Germany. Grassworks follows an inter- and transdisciplinary approach with strong disciplinary expertise and social-ecological integration and synthesis. The project works in three project regions (North, Central, South); in each project region, previously restored grassland will be studied in a post-hoc analysis (focus on ecology) and a living lab with restoration demonstration plots will be established and studied (focus on social sciences). The researchers at Leuphana will work in the project region North and the PostDocs in the team will also be responsible for the disciplinary and social-ecological integration of the results. For more information on the project, please visit https://www.leuphana.de/en/institutes/institute-of-ecology/team/vicky-temperton/grassworks.html and https://www.feda.bio/de/wissenschaft/projekte/grassworks/.
The PostDoc position Social Science (accompanied by Prof. Dr. Vicky Temperton, Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Loos) will lead the social science surveys in the three living labs and coordinates the social science PhDs in the three living labs with regard to publications. The successful applicant will be responsible for the lead management of the transdisciplinary collaboration in the living Lab North and for ensuring the social-ecological perspective on the processes in the living lab as well as their analytical design and implementation. In addition, the successful applicant will integrate and synthesize the work and results across all three living labs with respect to ecosystem services. The synthesis of results will capture intervention points or leverage points at different systemic levels as well as their interactions and compare site-specific aspects of the living labs.
The position is embedded in the collaboration of the entire consortium and is based in the research groups of Prof. Dr. Vicky Temperton and Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Loos at the Institute of Ecology at Leuphana, two dynamic international teams committed to basic and applied research in ecology and social ecology.
Your tasks:
- Co-supervision and guidance of social science fieldwork (including interviews, questionnaire surveys) in the North, Central, and South living labs.
- Leading the transdisciplinary collaboration in the living lab North
- Analysis of the social and social-ecological fieldwork data across the three project regions, especially with regard to the analysis of leverage points and their interactions
- Cooperation with the other PostDoc positions in the project, also with regard to a social-ecological, transdisciplinary further development of grassland restoration
Your profile:
- Completed academic university studies (Master or equivalent) in social sciences, political sciences, human ecology or geography or related disciplines with a focus on sustainability.
- Completed PhD in social sciences, preferably with a focus on sustainability and ideally further work experience in research, e.g. in transdisciplinary projects.
- Research background in social ecology, including experience in quantitative and qualitative empirical social research and transdisciplinary methods and processes.
- Very good German and English skills both written and spoken are required.
- Knowledge of EU agri-environmental programs (AEMs; AUKM), local conservation legislation and renaturation is a plus.
- Experience in publishing research results in peer-reviewed journals and general research reports.
We offer:
- A dedicated team with strong experience in research and collaboration on social-ecological systems, restoration ecology, and biodiversity.
- Flexible and family-friendly working hours
- Internal and external training courses
- University sports and health-promoting measures for employees
- Company pension plan
For questions regarding the content of the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Vicky Temperton (vicky.temperton@leuphana.de) or Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Loos (jacqueline.loos@leuphana.de).
4 – PhD position
Leuphana University of Lüneburg (foundation under public law), Faculty of Sustainability, has a vacancy for a part time (65 %)
Research Associate (m/f/d)
Restoration Ecology
(salary group EG 13 TV-L)
as soon as possible with 65% of the regular weekly working time of a full-time employee (subject to approval), limited until 30.10.2024. This qualification position, which is financed by third-party funds, is remunerated according to EG 13 TV-L and offers the possibility of a doctorate.
Background:
The position is part of the BMBF-funded third-party project Grassworks: What works and why in grassland restoration in Germany? A multi-region social-ecological assessment and pilot implementation of successful approaches. Grassworks is part of the Research Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation FEdA and is implemented as part of a research consortium on grassland restoration that includes six partner institutions. This position is one of five positions in the Grassworks project at Leuphana University Lüneburg.
The Grassworks project includes the perspectives ecology, social science, economics, governance and restoration practice to investigate how grassland restoration can be successfully implemented in Germany. Grassworks follows an inter- and transdisciplinary approach with strong disciplinary expertise and social-ecological integration and synthesis. The project works in three project regions (North, Central, South); in each project region, previously restored grassland will be studied in a post-hoc analysis (focus on ecology) and a living lab with restoration demonstration plots will be established and studied (focus on social sciences). The researchers at Leuphana will work in the project region North and the PostDocs in the team will also be responsible for the disciplinary and social-ecological integration of the results. For more information on the project, please visit https://www.leuphana.de/en/institutes/institute-of-ecology/team/vicky-temperton/grassworks.html and https://www.feda.bio/de/wissenschaft/projekte/grassworks/.
This PhD position in the field of restoration ecology (supervised by Prof. Dr. Vicky Temperton, Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Loos) will perform extensive field work as well as subsequent data analysis. The PhD student will work closely with the PostDoc Ecology and will be responsible for site selection of negative and positive references, field surveys of vegetation and butterflies, as well as for trapping, dissecting, and predetermining wild bees. The collected data will be statistically analysed and the results published in appropriate journals. The PhD student will maintain close contact with the other PhD students of the project, especially with the other ecologists conducting parallel surveys in the project regions Central and South.
The position is embedded in the collaboration of the entire consortium and is based in the working groups of Prof. Vicky Temperton and Prof. Jacqueline Loos in the Institute of Ecology, in two international dynamic teams committed to basic and applied research in ecology and social ecology.
Your tasks:
- Conduct ecological field work (record vegetation, wild bees, butterflies on 70 plots in the North; participate in restoration research in the living lab North)
- Statistical analysis of the ecological results from the project region North and close cooperation with the Postdoc Ecology in the synthesis of the data from the three regions (North, Central, South)
- Cooperation within the project, especially with the parallel positions in the project regions Central and South, also with regard to a social ecological, transdisciplinary further development of grassland restoration
- Co-supervision of B.Sc. and M.Sc. final theses
Your profile:
- Completed scientific university studies (Master’s degree or equivalent) in ecology, environmental science, geographic ecology, geography or related disciplines with a focus on ecology/ environmental science/sustainability
- Good species knowledge in grassland vegetation and/or butterflies and wild bees. If possible, good knowledge of one of the zoological groups is an advantage. A wild bee expert will help with detailed determinations of wild bees.
- Knowledge of EU agri-environmental programs (AEMs; AUKM) or local nature conservation legislation is an advantage
- Good English skills both written and spoken are required; if possible, a good knowledge of German (or a willingness to learn German, as the work involves exchanges with local actors).
We offer:
- A dedicated team with a lot of experience in biodiversity research, restoration ecology, ecology and social ecological systems.
- Flexible and family-friendly working hours
- Internal and external training courses
- University sports and health-promoting measures for employees
- Company pension plan
For questions regarding the content of the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Vicky Temperton (vicky.temperton@leuphana.de) or Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Loos (jacqueline.loos@leuphana.de).
5 – Postdoc
Leuphana University of Lüneburg (foundation under public law), Faculty of Sustainability, has a vacancy for a full-time (100 %)
Post-Doc Ecology (m/f/d)
(salary group EG 13 TV-L)
as soon as possible with 100% of the regular weekly working time of a full-time employee (subject to approval), limited until 30.10.2024.
Background:
The position is part of the BMBF-funded third-party project Grassworks: What works and why in grassland restoration in Germany? A multi-region social-ecological assessment and pilot implementation of successful approaches. Grassworks is part of the Research Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation FEdA and is implemented as part of a research consortium on grassland restoration that includes six partner institutions. This position is one of five positions in the Grassworks project at Leuphana University Lüneburg.
The Grassworks project includes the perspectives ecology, social science, economics, governance and restoration practice to investigate how grassland restoration can be successfully implemented in Germany. Grassworks follows an inter- and transdisciplinary approach with strong disciplinary expertise and social-ecological integration and synthesis. The project works in three project regions (North, Central, South); in each project region, previously restored grassland will be studied in a post-hoc analysis (focus on ecology) and a living lab with restoration demonstration plots will be established and studied (focus on social sciences). The researchers at Leuphana will work in the project region North and the PostDocs in the team will also be responsible for the disciplinary and social-ecological integration of the results. For more information on the project, please visit https://www.leuphana.de/en/institutes/institute-of-ecology/team/vicky-temperton/grassworks.html and https://www.feda.bio/de/wissenschaft/projekte/grassworks/.
The successful applicant (mentored by Prof. Dr. Vicky Temperton and Prof. Dr. Jörn Fischer) will lead the ecological fieldwork in the project region North and will analyse the ecological results from all three project regions, especially with regard to multifunctionality of grassland and variance/variability of biodiversity and multifunctionality within the dataset. In addition, the successful applicant will analyse and evaluate the approach using negative and positive reference sites chosen for the project. Within this position, the successful candidate will also support restoration in the living lab North (design, implementation, monitoring of demonstration plots throughout the project).
The position is embedded in the collaboration of the entire consortium and is based in the working groups of Prof. Dr. Vicky Temperton at the Institute of Ecology and Prof. Dr. Jörn Fischer at the Social-Ecological Systems Institute at Leuphana, two international teams committed to basic and applied research in ecology and social ecology.
Your tasks:
- Co-supervision and guidance of ecological fieldwork (vegetation, butterflies, wild bees).
- Analyse ecological results across the three project regions, especially with regard to multifunctionality and variability in success outcomes within and between the three regions.
- Establishment, supervision and evaluation of demonstration plots of grassland restoration in the living lab North and co-supervision of the work in the project region South.
- Collaboration with the other PostDoc positions in the project, also with regard to social-ecological transformation paths that can impact future developments of grassland restoration.
- Synthesis work and writing of scientific publications on the topics of ecological restoration success and multifunctionality.
Your profile:
- Completed scientific university studies (Master’s degree or equivalent) in biology, ecology, environmental science, geographic ecology, geography or related disciplines with a focus on ecology/environmental science/sustainability.
- A completed PhD in natural sciences, preferably ecology, is desirable; a position shortly before submission of the thesis may be possible.
- Research background in ecology, including experience in either experimental (field and/or lab) or more applied approaches to conservation and restoration in ecological research
- Species knowledge, for grassland vegetation and preferably also wild bees or butterflies, is desirable, whereby a specialist is available to assist with wild bee identification.
- Experience in analysing large ecological datasets and/or databases is an asset.
- Very good knowledge of English, both written and spoken. Ability to speak German is an advantage as we work with many local stakeholders.
- Knowledge of EU agri-environmental programs (AEMs; AUKM) or local conservation legislation is an advantage.
- Experience in collaborating in large research groups is an advantage.
- Experience in publishing research results in peer-reviewed journals and general research reports.
We offer:
- A dedicated team with extensive experience in restoration ecology, biodiversity, ecology, and social-ecological systems.
- Flexible and family-friendly working hours
- Internal and external training courses
- University sports and health-promoting measures for employees
- Company pension plan
For questions regarding the content of the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Vicky Temperton (vicky.temperton@leuphana.de) and Prof. Dr. Joern Fischer (fischer@leuphana.de).
Ideas for Sustainability 