Tenure Track Scientist (m/f/d) on “Integrated impact assessment modelling for living labs”

Müncheberg

Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V.

The mission of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver knowledge and solutions for ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture. ZALF aims for excellent and integrated research with societal impact. The institute is a member of the Leibniz Association and is located in Müncheberg (approx. 35 minutes by regional train from Berlin-Lichtenberg). ZALF is currently establishing its Innovation Centre for Agricultural System Transformation (IAT). Beginning in 2026, the IAT will operate as a new and permanent structural unit within ZALF with 19 working groups conducting research in the context of agricultural living labs. The IAT working groups will collaborate with diverse actors in the co-design and shared assessment of cultivation systems, value networks and joint innovations in support of a larger transformation towards more sustainable and equitable agriculture. The research is focused on five agricultural landscape living labs in Hesse and Brandenburg. The IAT working groups are in Giessen, Kassel, Geisenheim, and Müncheberg. More details can be found here.

With its Tenure Track System, ZALF aims to recruit excellent scientists with core expertise aligned with the IAT by guaranteeing a permanent contract upon successful evaluation.

We are offering at our IAT location in Müncheberg a full-time position as

Tenure Track Scientist (m/f/d) 

on “Integrated impact assessment modelling for living labs”

Reference No. IAT-T01-2025

Call description

This Classic Tenure Track Call invites applications for a position in support the co-design of resilient and sustainable farming systems and landscapes. The position will advance cross-scale and disciplinary methods for integrated impact assessment modelling. The aim is to bridge global, national and regional drivers (e.g., climate change, public perceptions, policies and market developments) on farm- and landscape-level innovations. All research should be embedded in a living lab context, primarily in Germany, but also in other world regions.

The successful candidate will:

• develop approaches to quickly and robustly tailor model configurations (components and data) to assess innovations and scenarios suggested by key stakeholders in a living lab context
• conduct model based integrated impact assessments at farm and landscape level in active collaboration with researchers conducting participatory resilience and sustainability assessments
• advance concepts and methods for integrated agricultural systems modelling (e.g., assimilation of real-time on-farm and landscape-level data in models; development of hybrid modelling approaches to integrate data-driven models with system models; modular model structures for easily tailoring model; and/or new approaches to visualize and combine quantitative model results with qualitative assessments)
• establish cooperations within and beyond ZALF and the IAT university partners with cropping system, hydrological, land use and bioeconomic scientists and modelers, impact assessment practitioners, behavioral economists, social scientists, soil and geospatial scientists, and computer and data scientists.

Qualifications

We are seeking a creative, systems thinker and impact-oriented scientist. The selected candidate will have a Ph.D. in agricultural sciences or engineering, or a related discipline. They will have significant experience in integrated system modelling, extensive experience in conducting impact assessments and a strong interest in research that involves the generation of new knowledge inspired by solving real-world problems in partnership with farmers and other actors. Basic scripting skills and the ability to clearly communicate with model programmers and developers are required, while programming expertise is a clear advantage. Previous experience in working in interdisciplinary teams is required, as is an openness to transdisciplinary research.

We offer:

The successful candidate will receive a Regular Tenure Track position (2 x 3 years) with transition to a permanent position, subject to successful evaluations (midterm and final tenure evaluation). If candidates are not legally eligible for two consecutive fixed-term contracts (according to the German academic employment law – WissZeitVG), a Fast Tenure Track (1 phase) may be negotiated if the required scientific achievements are fulfilled. Although a working group leadership is not envisioned for this position, it may be subject to negotiation for a future development depending on interest and qualification.

Further:

• Full-time contract, with part-time option to allow for the reconciliation of family and career
• Salary will follow the guidelines for public employees according to the German TV-L, E13
• Individual options for career support such as a mentoring tandem, courses & trainings
• An interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• Service groups and support for stakeholder management and living lab coordination, as well as for data management and computation
• Access to a network of national and international scientific partners in the field of research
• A collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• Relocation within commuting distance of the IAT location is welcome; remote work is permitted up to 40% per month
• Company ticket for public transport

Application and candidate selection

ZALF is an equal opportunities employer (audit berufundfamilie® certificate) and specifically encourages female scientists to apply. Applications of disabled applicants with equal qualifications will be favored.

Application documents must follow the specifications given in the respective guideline available at the ZALF website (www.zalf.de/en/karriere/tenure-track) and include two standardized letters of recommendation of scientists who are familiar with your research accomplishments and academic credentials (template available at Reference_Letter). This call has reference to the special conditions of IAT Tenure Track positions.

Candidate selection is based on scientific achievements, strategic aspects, and personal suitability. Details on criteria, minimum requirements and evaluation processes can be obtained from the ZALF Tenure Track System guideline, which is an official annex to this call: Tenure_Track_Guideline. 

Please send your application preferably online (see link below). For e-mail application, create a single PDF file and send it to tenuretrack@zalf.de stating the reference number IAT-T01-2025.

The deadline for applications is 08 April 2025.

E-mail application 
Online application

If you have any questions regarding the research profile of this position, please contact Prof. Dr. Heidi Webber (Phone +49(0)33432/82-271; heidi.webber@zalf.de). For questions regarding the Tenure Track System, please contact Dr. Andrea Kern (Phone +49(0)33432/82-589; andrea.kern@zalf.de).

Contact of Human resource management: personal@zalf.de

The filling of the position is subject to the final decision on the provision of institutional funding. 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 ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months. You can find further information here.