Deadline: September 12, 2022
Location: Justus-Liebig Universität Giessen, Germany
Salary: Remuneration group 13 TV-H (Öffentlicher Dienst)
Part-time (65%)
Start date: October 1, 2022
German and English skills needed.
Apply via this form. (Ref. number: 534/09 )
Founded in 1607, Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) is a research university rich in tradition.
Inspired by curiosity about the unknown, we enable around 28,000 students and 5,700 employees
to advance science for society. Join us in breaking new ground and writing success stories – your
own and those of our university.
Support us from 01.10.2022 in one of two part-time positions (65 %) as a Research Assistant (m/w/d) in the field of Sustainability of community-based natural resource management schemes in Southern Africa *
ELNAC
The position is part of the externally funded project: „Enhanced Livelihoods and Natural Resource Management under Accelerated Climate Change (ELNAC): a large landscape social-ecological systems approach“ and is to be filled for a limited period for three years at the Chair of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Policy, Institute for Agricultural Policy and Market Research at the Faculty 09 Agricultural Sciences, Ecotrophology and Environmental Management. If the requirements of the collective agreement are met, remuneration will be according to remuneration group 13 TV-H.
ELNAC is led by a consortium of NGO and university partners from Germany and Southern Africa on the Okavango River Basin. The ELNAC project addresses the human-wildlife conflict and investigates the extent to which the structure of Community-Based Natural Resource Management Schemes (CBNRM) can ensure livelihoods for both people and nature.
Your tasks at a glance:
• Contribution to the JLU sub-project “Social metabolism of community-based natural resource management schemes”. The subproject offers an analysis of the human-nature relationship of 1) a historical interpretation of nature using a political ecology approach) and 2) a material interpretation of nature, accounting for money and biomass flows generated in CBNRM and linking them to individual actors.
• Field research for detailed data collection at village level in Angola using traditional and participatory approaches (including participation in workshops).
• Close cooperation with local non-governmental organisations
• Support in the administrative management of the project
• Writing of research results
• Writing of a dissertation on the topic of the sub-project is possible and welcome.
Your qualifications and competences:
• University degree in development economics, agricultural economics, political economy, political ecology, rural development, environmental sociology, environmental sciences, economic anthropology, or related fields.
• Knowledge in theory of socio-ecological systems
• Professional experience in tropical/subtropical country
• Excellent English, knowledge of Portuguese is an advantage
• University degree in development economics, agricultural economics, political economy, political ecology, rural development, environmental sociology, environmental sciences, economic anthropology, or related fields.
• Knowledge in theory of socio-ecological systems
• Professional experience in tropical/subtropical country
• Excellent English and German language skills, knowledge of Portuguese is an advantage
• Excellent communication skills, in writing in scientific communication, orally, and social communication
• The position requires travelling two to four times to Southern Africa and in particular to Angola. The candidate should be prepared to spend approximately six to seven months abroad during the first two years of the contract.
• Experience with collection of socio-economic data desirable
• Experience in qualitative and/or participatory data analysis desirable
• Knowledge about community-based natural resource management schemes desirable Our offer to you
• You will be part of a dynamic chair with PhD students from all over the world and several postdocs. The professorship is also home to an international PhD programme with which you will have the opportunity to interact.
• You will also get to meet a dedicated team in Southern Africa and interact with numerous colleagues.
• You will work closely with NGOs, fostering ethical and safe interactions with communities, as well as gaining a deep understanding of the human-wildlife conflict from a community perspective.
• If interested, you may participate in a discussion group on decolonisation research.
• A varied job with flexible working hours
• Free use of local public transport (LandesTicket Hessen)
• More than 100 seminars, workshops and e-learning opportunities per year for personal development, as well as a wide range of health and sports programmes
• Remuneration according to TV-H, company pension scheme, child allowance and special payments
• Good compatibility of family and career (certificate “audit familiengerechte hochschule”)
For further questions, please contact:
Sergej Enns (sergej.enns[at]agrar.uni-giessen.de) or Stéphanie Domptail (stephanie.domptail[at]agrar.uni-giessen.de).
Application form
JLU aims to employ more women in academic research. We therefore particularly encourage female candidates to apply. Due to the women’s support plan, there is an obligation to increase the proportion of women. JLU is regarded as a family-friendly university. Applicants with children are very welcome. Applications from disabled people of equal aptitude will be given preference.
You want to break new grounds with us?
Apply via our online form by September 12th, 2022, under the following reference number 534/09.
We look forward to receiving your application.