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 for Land Use Decisions in a Spatial and System Context (DSC) studies landscape transformation as a co-evolutionary process between people and landscapes. To do so, we use the lens of food systems to connect agriculture, its actors, and landscapes across and within urban and rural settings. Together with relevant actors, we co-develop visions for landscapes and agricultural systems. This is complemented by co-defining cooperative strategies to move towards those visions.  Strategies that the working group focuses on include biodiversity-friendly farming, agroecology, short or regional value-chains, securing access to land and shifting diets. Particular attention is placed upon biophysical, socio-cultural (e.g. values, power), and governance aspects that shape the development and outcomes of these strategies. Drawing on methodologies from across disciplines, the working group develops novel method combinations to describe and redesign spatial relationships connecting human and non-human systems.

We are offering a part-time student position (40 hours/month) for 12 months at our location in Müncheberg as

• Support data collection and management in the Agroecology4Climate project
• Help coordinate and schedule diverse activities in the DSC working group
• Prepare short texts for communicating science
• Potentially create and maintain a working group website

• Highly committed and reliable
• Structured and organized way of working
• Dedicated to clear communication and a positive work environment, particularly by being at ZALF in person during most work hours
• Experience with field work (e.g. soil sampling, interviews), data management and preliminary analyses
• You are studying and have experience related to food systems, agriculture, or landscapes

• an interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• an international network of like-minded colleagues and peers working within and beyond research dedicated to agroecology, sustainable food systems, and landscapes
• opportunities to learn about diverse scientific methodologies in a reflexive and inclusive environment
• a collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• payment according to the usual hourly rates for student/scientific assistants of the state of Brandenburg
• company ticket

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 (see button online application below). 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 CV, proof of qualification and certificates, stating the reference number 40-2025 until 20 July 2025 to (see button e-mail application below).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Maria Kernecker, Tel. +49 (0) 33432/82-448, or via email maria.kernecker@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.