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 working group Provisioning of Ecosystem Services in Agricultural Systems is offering a PhD position within the DFG funded research group, Agroforestry for sustainable multifunctional agriculture (FORMULA) as part of the sub-project, Management, productivity and yields. Together with partners at University of Giessen and ZALF, this PhD project has the task to investigate within field crop growth heterogeneity and agronomic responses. The research is based on field experiments and spatial data analysis using GIS.

Subject to final approval of funds, we are offering a 65% position for 4 years at our location in Müncheberg as

PhD student (f/m/d)
63-2024

Your tasks:

• sampling of plant growth indicators and crop yield data from two agroforestry sites in Brandenburg and Hessen (with focus on Brandenburg)
• spatial analysis of sampled data in combination with digital maps and sensing data
• publication of results in peer-reviewed scientific journals

Your qualifications:

• Master in agricultural science, natural resource management or related discipline
• willingness to undertake extensive field work
• excellent communication skills in English
• good teamwork skills with willingness to collaborate across disciplines
• driver’s license (Class B/BE, manual) and experience in driving

What we offer:

• an interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• opportunity to collaborate with leading international scientists and networks in cropping and agroeco-system analysis
• strong institutional commitment to a good work-life balance
• classification according to the collective agreement of the federal states (TV-L) up to EG 13 with a 65% weekly working time (including special annual payment)
• a collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• company train 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. For e-mail applications, create a PDF document (one PDF file, max. 5 MB; packed PDF documents, archive files like zip, rar etc. Word documents cannot be processed and therefore cannot be considered!) with the usual documents, in particular Cover letter, CV, proof of qualification and certificates, stating the reference number 63-2024 until August 09, 2024 to (see button e-mail application below).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Prof. Dr. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura, email: Sonoko.Bellingrath-Kimura@zalf.de

Application documents sent by post or extensive publications will not be returned

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.