47 FB 9 Research Assistant / PhD Candidate (m/f/d) DFG-funded Research Training Group ECORISK B1b

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 liveable city.

In the subproject ›Regime shifts and human behaviour in agricultural systems‹ at the Department of Environmental Economics in the School of Business Administration and Economics, a position as

Research Assistant / PhD Candidate (m/f/d)
(Pay grade 13 TV-L, 75%)


is to be filled on a fixed-term basis until September 30, 2029, starting on October 1, 2026.


Your Duties:

  • Scientific work on the mentioned subproject by carrying out an experimental and behavioural economic study on the suitability of various agri-environmental policy instruments for regulating farmer behaviour under uncertainty and systemic risk, which also forms the basis for your own academic qualification in the form of a doctoral degree. This involves conducting a lab-in-the-field experiment with farmers from Germany.
  • 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.

Requirements:

  • Very good completed academic (Master’s or diploma) degree in the fields of economics (agricultural, environmental, behavioural or experimental economics), systems science, behavioural science (environmental psychology, agricultural sociology) or in a related discipline or related interdisciplinary program. (Applications from individuals who are about to complete a degree program as described above are also welcome.) 
  • Strong research interest in experimental and behavioural economic perspectives on questions of ecological regime shifts and systemic risks in social-ecological systems in the agricultural context
  • Very good English language skills in both spoken and written form
  • Experience with economic experiments, behavioural economic models or quantitative data analysis (e.g. with STATA or R) (at least one of three)
  • Competences to work independently and collaboratively
  • Motivation to work in and co-create with an inter- and transdisciplinary team working on socially relevant research questions

Additional Qualifications:

  • Good German language skills in both spoken and written form
  • Experience in interdisciplinary and international collaboration
  • Very good knowledge of one or more of the following topics:
    • Experimental design and/or implementation of economic experiments
    • The German agricultural sector
    • (Ecological) Regime shifts and systemic risk
  • Gender and diversity competencies

We offer:

  • Participation in an exciting and highly topical research project
  • A structured doctoral program at Osnabrück University
  • Opportunities to acquire relevant research experience
  • Collegial collaboration in an interdisciplinary, international, and diversity-oriented team that values equity
  • Tailored training opportunities
  • Full funding of field research costs
  • Opportunities for partial remote work and flexible working hours

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.

Please send applications, including a maximum two-page motivation letter for the advertised position (explaining your motivation and qualifications for and potential contribution to the subproject), a curriculum vitae (CV) (possibly including a list of publications),

transcripts of previous academic degrees (Bachelor/Master, including Transcripts of Records), a meaningful writing sample (e.g. chapter from your own article (if available), master’s thesis, or term paper) and the name and email address(es) of one or more potential references (alternative: one or more reference letters), in electronic form as a single PDF file via email by April 30, 2026 to:  ecorisk@uos.de.

Please include the number of the subproject B1b or subprojects you are applying for in the subject line.

For questions regarding this job advertisement, please contact the subproject leader Dr. Fabian Thomas ( fabian.thomas@uni-osnabrueck.de).

Further information about this subproject and the Research Training Group can be found at:  https://www.uni-osnabrueck.de/ecorisk