46 FB 9 Research Assistant / PhD Candidate (m/f/d) DFG-funded Research Training Group ECORISK B3b

The DFG-funded Research Training Group "Ecological Regime Shifts and Systemic Risk in Coupled Social‑Ecological Systems" (ECORISK), which has been running since 2024, brings together perspectives from behavioural economics, ecological modeling, environmental systems science, geography, geoinformatics, political science and sociology. Within the framework of three thematic clusters (Ecosystem Dynamics, Human activities and Governance), ECORISK deals with the causes of ecological regime shifts and the systemic risks they pose as well as their consequences in socio‑ecological systems. Intensive agriculture serves as a guiding example. The Research Training Group is located at Osnabrück University, whose diverse research attracts students and scholars from around the world to a livable city.

In the subproject "Participatory Interventions to Foster Cooperation in the Face of Regime Shifts and Systemic Risk" at the Department of Environmental Economics in the School of Business Administration and Economics, a position is to be filled on a fixed‑term basis until September 30, 2029, starting on October 1, 2026.

Research Assistant / PhD Candidate (m/f/d)

Pay grade 13 TV‑L, 75%. This position is on a fixed‑term basis until September 30, 2029.

Your Duties

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• Scientific work on the mentioned subproject, which also forms the basis for your own academic qualification in the form of a doctoral degree. Specifically, the work would focus on a) contributing to the review of relevant streams of literature on participatory governance arrangements/capacities to overcome collective action challenges among heterogeneous stakeholders; b) designing a suitable participatory intervention to bridge (perceived) distance and promote collective action (skills) among heterogeneous stakeholders in the context of sustainable agriculture or food systems; and c) assessing the potential of the selected intervention, e.g. through an economic field experiment or a before‑and‑after impact assessment.
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• Participation and involvement in the qualification program and activities of the ECORISK Research Training Group, as well as relevant activities of the Chair of Environmental Economics.
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Requirements

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• Very good completed academic (Master's or diploma) degree in the fields of agricultural, environmental, behavioural or experimental economics, systems science, political science, environmental psychology, environmental policy/governance or a related study program. (Applications from individuals who are about to complete a degree program as described above are also welcome.)
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• Interest in environmental and natural resource governance processes.
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• Strong research interest in the (participatory) processes that can generate (the capacities for) inner change for sustainability transformation at the individual and the societal level (for ex. a change in perceptions of social distance/norms, trust, or empathic concern).
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• Very good English language skills in both spoken and written form.
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• Competences and experience in quantitative research methods.
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• Competences to work independently and collaboratively.
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• Motivation to work in and co‑create with an inter‑ and transdisciplinary team working on socially relevant research questions.
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Additional Qualifications

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• Excellent analytical skills.
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• Experience with one or more of the following:
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  • qualitative research methods
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  • assisting or conducting (economic) field experiments
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  • participatory methods/workshops
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  • other forms of stakeholder interactions
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• Very good knowledge of one or more of the following topics:
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  • Experimental design
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  • Sustainable agriculture
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  • (Ecological) Regime shifts and systemic risk
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  • Ability to communicate with diverse types of audiences
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  • Leadership skills (for ex., concrete experiences with leading or coordinating a small team)
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  • Gender and diversity competencies
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We Offer

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• Participation in an exciting and highly topical research project.
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• A structured doctoral program at Osnabrück University.
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• Acquisition of relevant research experience.
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• Collegial collaboration in an interdisciplinary, international, and diversity‑oriented team that values equity.
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• Tailored training opportunities.
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• Funding for the participatory intervention and related fieldwork costs (with some flexibility regarding the country of implementation).
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• Opportunities for partial remote work and flexible working hours.
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Osnabrück University is a family‑friendly university and is committed to helping working/studying parents balance their family and working lives. Osnabrück University seeks to guarantee equality of opportunity for women and men and strives to correct any gender imbalance in its schools and departments. If two candidates are equally qualified, preference will be given to the candidate with disability status.