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.
From 2026, ZALF will be expanded to include an “Innovation Center for Agricultural System Transformation” (IAT), which will focus on research in, with, and about regional living labs in agricultural landscapes. The initial living labs will be established in five pilot regions in Brandenburg and Hesse and aim to promote innovation in agricultural systems in collaboration with various stakeholders. 17 new working groups will be established, which will conduct research following co-design principles (https://www.zalf.de/en/struktur/iat/Pages/default.aspx).
The service group “Socio-ecological Monitoring for Living Labs” supports the scientific work of the IAT in the five pilot regions through systematic monitoring of ecological and social processes in cooperation with scientists and stakeholders. Ecological monitoring is carried out through integrated recording of soil, crops, and landscape characteristics using multiple sensors, mobile measuring systems, and other available data. Social processes are recorded through panel studies, regional surveys, social network data, and qualitative interviews, among other methods. The integrated long-term observation of ecological and social dynamics in the living labs is carried out through systematic data collection, data documentation, linking, and data publication. The working group develops and provides an important permanent basis for the IAT's analyses and contextualization of research. The work is based on close cooperation with the service group for research data management, the IAT service group for data and modeling infrastructures, as well as IAT research groups for methods development. The services support the research of ZALF and the three partner universities in Hesse (Giessen, Kassel, Geisenheim) in the five living lab regions.
We are offering a full-time position starting January 1, 2026, initially limited to two years with the prospect of permanent employment at our location in Müncheberg.
Desirable qualifications
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 43-2025 until 15th of September 2025 to (see button e-mail application below).
Interviews are expected to take place on October 6, 2025 in Münchberg.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Dr. Holger Döring (holger.doering@zalf.de · Tel. 033432/82-499) and Prof. Dr. Katharina Helming (helming@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.