Founded in 1409, Leipzig University is one of Germany’s largest universities and a leader in research and medical training. With around 30,000 students and more than 5000 members of staff across 14 faculties, it is at the heart of the vibrant and outward-looking city of Leipzig. Leipzig University offers an innovative and international working environment as well as an exciting range of career opportunities in research, teaching, knowledge and technology transfer, infrastructure and administration.
Leipzig University is starting a new research training group on the Economics of Connected Natural Commons: Atmosphere and Biodiversity (ECO-N), funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The project involves the Faculties of (1) Economics and Management Science, (2) Life Sciences, and (3) Physics and Earth System Sciences at Leipzig University, as well as the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig.
ECO-N combines interdisciplinary research on how to sustainably use and conserve natural commons such as biodiverse forests, fertile soils, regional climate, or clean urban air with a rigorous course programme providing disciplinary and interdisciplinary competencies. A total of approximately 30 early-career researchers and established researchers from economics, meteorology, and biology will collaborate within ECO-N. A welcome week, annual retreats, and a continuous lecture series with international guests, and synthesis activities, constitute the collaborative, fair and inclusive working environment in the ECO-N research training group. Doctoral programmes in Economics, Meteorology and Integrative Biodiversity
Research provide high-level disciplinary graduate education, complemented by interdisciplinary advanced training modules tailored to ECO-N.
We seek to fill the above positions from 1 September 2024.
We are seeking candidates with a Master’s degree in economics, meteorology, biology, or related disciplines. The doctoral research will be done in interdisciplinary collaborative projects. Within these projects, two to four doctoral researchers from different disciplines will develop a deep understanding of natural commons related to atmosphere and biodiversity:
- Accounting for aerosols in climate mitigation pathways and on financial markets
- Quantifying distributional effects of adaptation to future "record-shattering" heat waves
- Explaining within-city-differences in air quality and socio-economic outcomes
- Assessing the human benefits of soil multifunctionality
- Proposing elements of optimal forest management
About the position
- Fixed term of four years (until August 2028)
- 75 % of a full-time position (each position)
- Planned remuneration: salary group 13 TV-L
Duties
- Quantitative research on sustainable use of specific natural commons as part of an interdisciplinary team
- Writing and publishing of scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals; presentation of own research at national and international conferences
- Participation in the disciplinary doctoral programmes (in Economics, Meteorology or Integrative Biodiversity Research), and in the advanced training modules of the research training group
- Contributing to the doctoral seminars and events of the research training group
- Opportunity of contributing to synthesis working groups as part of the research training group Requirements
- Strong interest in sustainable use and conservation of natural commons
- Very good Master’s degree, or equivalent, in economics, meteorology, biology or a related discipline
- Profound knowledge in quantitative research methods (statistics, econometrics, modelling)
- Fluent English communication skills (speaking and writing)
- Team-orientation and openness for interdisciplinary and international collaboration
What the Application should include
- Cover letter (in English) describing the motivation for doing a PhD within ECO-N, research interests & relevant experience. Please also explain which Interdisciplinary Collaborative Project you would be most interested in, see list on the website: www.eco-n.org
- Digital copy of Master’s certificate or transcript of records
- You are welcome to include a PDF of one research paper you have written (e.g., a seminar paper, the Master thesis, or the Bachelor thesis)
What we offer
- A modern workplace and attractive working conditions (mobile working)
- Flexible working hours and work-life balance
- Goal-oriented staff development throughout your working life, with opportunities for continuing
professional development - Pension plan
- Commuter pass for the MDV network
Please submit your application until 22 February 2024, quoting reference number 371/2023, via the recruitment portal of iDiv, one of the participating institutes of the research training group: https://apply.idiv.de
Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.
You can find more information on the website of the research training group: www.eco-n.org
For queries on the application process, please contact Maria Schnabel (maria.schnabel@idiv.de); for research project questions, contact Martin Quaas (martin.quaas@idiv.de).
We value diversity und equity and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of gender, disability, nationality or ethnic and social background.
Leipzig University aims to increase the proportion of women in positions of responsibility and therefore expressly invites qualified women to apply. Severely disabled persons – or persons deemed legally equal to them under Book IX of the German Social Code – are encouraged to apply and will be given preference in the case of equal suitability.
Privacy information
If you choose to apply and send us your documents, you do so voluntarily. Any personal data contained within your application documents, or obtained during an interview, will be processed by Leipzig University – as the advertiser of the position – exclusively for the purposes of the selection process for the position advertised. It will not be passed on to third parties without your consent in the individual case. The legal basis for such data processing is Sect. 11(1) of the Saxon Data Protection Implementation Act (SächsDSDG) in conjunction with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The controller for the application process within the meaning of the GDPR is the addressee of the application, specified in the advertisement. Your personal data will be stored for six months after the end of the recruitment process and then erased or destroyed in accordance with data protection regulations. You may refuse or withdraw your consent with effect for the future without giving reasons. In these cases, Leipzig University will not or no longer be able to process and consider your application. Under the GDPR, subject to the relevant statutory requirements you have the following rights vis-à-vis the addressee of the application with regard to your personal data: right of access (Art. 15 GDPR); right to rectification of inaccurate personal data (Art. 16 GDPR); right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR); right to restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR); and right to object to processing (Art. 21 GDPR). If you have any questions, please contact the Data Protection Officer at Leipzig University (office: Augustusplatz 10, 04109 Leipzig). You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Saxon Commissioner for Data Protection.