Postdoc (m/f/d) in Reviewing integrated methods for agricultural landscape systems

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 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 position will be in Research Area 3: Agricultural Landscape Systems. They use system approaches to understand processes and assess implications of emerging developments in agricultural and food systems. This knowledge contributes to the basis for the co-development of pathways towards sustainable and equitable transformations of agricultural landscapes.

 We are offering at our location in Müncheberg full-time position for 12-months with the possibility of extension as

Postdoc (m/f/d) in Reviewing integrated methods for agricultural landscape systems
77-2025

We are offering a postdoc position to examine rational for and extent of methods integration (e.g. through triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods, and across disciplines, and perspectives) for understanding agricultural systems and instruments to support their transformation towards sustainability and resilience. Our ambition is to explore the rationale for method selection, which methods are integrated, for which problems and contexts, and accounting for which system drivers and sustainability issues. The task would consider mapping internal activities within ZALF, other research institutes and the published literature.

The successful candidate is expected to:

• review ZALF internal, other institutions and published literature for examples of integrating methods in the study of agricultural systems,
• provide systematic mapping of the methods and results across studies,
• support with identifying a theoretical basis to frame the choices and underlying assumptions influencing the choice of methods,
• write a review paper on the topic, and
• coordinate the efforts of RA3 working leaders in preparing a catalogue of methods

The call is addressed to interdisciplinary researchers holding a PhD in agriculture, environmental science, agricultural economics, geography or a similar field with a strong interest in supporting more sustainable, resilient and equitable agricultural landscapes systems. They will have a good familiarity with system analysis, sustainability assessments and agricultural systems and landscapes. They must be able to work independently as well as collaborate closely with interdisciplinary scientists using a diversity of qualitative and quantitative methods. They should be organized and possess very good scientific writing skills.

We offer:

•   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 up to E13
•   An interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
•   A collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
•   Company ticket for public transport

ZALF promotes equality among all employees and welcomes applications regardless of ethnic, cultural, or social background, age, religion, ideology, disability, gender, or sexual identity. It is generally possible to work in the position on a part-time basis. 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 Cover letter, CV, proof of qualification and certificates, stating the reference number 77-2025 until January 15, 2026 to (see button e-mail application below).

If you have any questions regarding the research profile of this position, please contact Heidi Webber (Phone +49(0)33432/82-271; webber@zalf.de) or Katharina Helming (Phone +49(0)33432/82-155; 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.