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.

The advertised position will support the European Partnership “Accelerating farming systems transition: Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures”. The Agroecology Partnership, funded by Horizon Europe, unites the European Commission and 72 partners across 26 Member States, Associated Countries, and Third Countries will support an agriculture sector that is fit to meet the targets and challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, food security and sovereignty, and the environment, while ensuring a profitable and attractive activity for farmers. The Partnership in particular pools the resources of the EC and the states involved to fund high-level research generating appropriate knowledge and technologies. ZALF is part of the AGROECOLOGY Partnership, which launched on January 1st, 2024.

We are offering a full-time position limited to 1.5 years, with immediate effect in our working group “Co-Design of Change and Innovation" at the Müncheberg location as a

The focus of the advertised position is on identifying and engaging actors and stakeholders within agri-food value chains and on providing methodological guidance (co-creation and collective intelligence methods) for promoting the development of new Agroecology Living Labs.

• Conducting systematic literature review and contribute to other scientific publications
• Developing a methodology for putting the concept of “regionalization” into practice
• Conceptualizing, conducting and analyzing semi-structured interviews on e.g. best practices of co-creation in agroecology living labs
• Identification of and engaging with experts, stakeholders and actors on agroecology in Europe
• Organizing workshops with international experts
• Joint representation of ZALF in the AGROECOLOGY Partnership and attending international project meetings
• Discussing, integrating, and sharing results within ZALF and the AGROECOLOGY Partnership

• PhD in environmental / agricultural science, (rural) sociology, human geography, political sciences, or related subjects
• Knowledge of transdisciplinary approaches and methods in theory and practice; research experiences in living labs will be an advantage
• Knowledge of systemic agroecology and agroecological transformation processes
• Experience in qualitative research methods that might integrate spatial analytical methods
• Excellent command of the English language (written and oral)
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently
• Love for working in an interdisciplinary and international project team
• Passion for agroecology, expanding your academic horizon, and contributing to a positive work environment and investing in strong communication

• Joining an open and enthusiastic project team at ZALF
• Opportunity to connect and exchange with living lab experts and the broader agroecological community at EU-level
• An interdisciplinary and international working environment that encourages independence
• Classification according to the collective agreement of the federal states (TV-L) up to E13 (including special annual payment)
• A collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• Company ticket
• In-house language courses and resources for career development

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 31-2025 until 1 June 2025 to (see button e-mail application below).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Dr. Kerstin Seier (administrative questions), Tel. +49 (0) 33432/82-258; e-mail: kerstin.seier@zalf.de or
Dr. Maria Busse (content related questions); e-mail: maria.busse@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.