Scientist (f/m/div) in integration and synthesis of knowledge on agriculture, nutrition, climate change & biodiversity

With its work, the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) contributes to a better understanding of plant systems and thus to the development of sustainable and resilient horticulture. The IGZ conducts research at the interface between plants, humans and the environment. In doing so, we address systemic and global challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, urbanization and malnutrition. We provide scientifically sound recommendations for healthy agri-food systems and sustainable interactions with the environment. The IGZ brings together a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines. Employees with different backgrounds conduct research in national and international research co-operations. The IGZ is based in Großbeeren near Potsdam and near Berlin and is a member of the Leibniz Association.

The Institute is seeking to fill the following position in the research group ‘Economic Development and Food Security’ in the programme area ‘Plant Quality and Food Security’ (QUALITY):

Scientist (f/m/div) in the field of integration and synthesis of knowledge on agriculture, nutrition, climate change and biodiversity

Reference number: 22/2024/3

Employment will be initially for two years. The salary will be based on qualification and research experience according to the wage agreement TV-L up to pay grade 13, full-time. The position is suitable for part-time work with at least 32 hours/week.

With a total of 41 research institutions and 11 research clusters of the Leibniz Association, the Leibniz Lab ‘Systemic Sustainability’ forms a central knowledge and consulting hub on topics related to nutrition, agriculture, climate and biodiversity. It focuses on the complex question of how we can effectively protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change while achieving resilient agriculture to secure food supplies. In the work package ‘Knowledge Integration’ we aim for knowledge integration - understood as the (data) synthesis or identification of various findings or gaps in knowledge from theory, empiricism and practice - within the subject areas of nutrition, agriculture, climate and biodiversity. The work package is jointly led by Prof. Tilman Brück at the IGZ and Dr. Markus Stocker at the TIB - Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology.

This position will contribute to systematically processing and integrating existing findings from various knowledge and data sources (‘state of the art’) using innovative methods at key interfaces between the subject areas of nutrition, agriculture, climate and biodiversity. Thereby, text-based publications and quantitative data sets should be integrated to obtain a comprehensive overview. This should lead to the identification of remaining knowledge gaps. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with a team at the TIB and other partners from the Leibniz Association. 

Tasks include

• integration of knowledge in a series of case studies at the interfaces of nutrition, agriculture, climate and biodiversity
• application and further development of the latest methods of research data and knowledge management as well as artificial intelligence (AI) for the systematic organisation of knowledge and evaluation 
• validation of our innovative approach to knowledge integration with AI based on the case studies by comparing it with ‘classic’ knowledge integration products such as systematic reviews
• statistical analysis of the results
• collaboration with other research partners to achieve the project goals
• presenting the results to the project consortium, to a scientific audience and to policymakers and practitioners
• writing scientific publications in international journals
• helping to coordinate the work of the Leibniz Lab
• contributing to the acquisition of further funding
• supervising students and student employees

We are looking for candidates with 

• a university degree (Master's) in agricultural economics, development economics, economics or a related field, ideally with a successfully completed doctorate
• extensive prior knowledge of at least two of the topics of nutrition, agriculture, climate and biodiversity
• experience in systematic reviews, meta-analyses or related methods for synthesising knowledge
• proven publication record in peer-reviewed journals
• experience in interdisciplinary scientific co-operation
• initial experience in the academic supervision or guidance of Bachelor's, Master's or doctoral students
• fluency in written and spoken English

We offer

• an attractive position at a modern research institute for interdisciplinary horticultural sciences
• support for personal and professional development
• a pleasant and respectful working atmosphere in an international environment
• integration into a successful and committed team 
• flexible and family-friendly working time models and the possibility of mobile working (up to 50% of working time)
• subsidy for the company ticket for public transport or the ‘Germany ticket’

For more information about IGZ, please visit www.igzev.de. For inquiries, please contact Prof. Tilman Brück (brueck@igzev.de).

We encourage a healthy work-life balance. The IGZ attaches great importance to equal opportunities. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualifications. The IGZ embraces diversity in its workforce, and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, world view, disability and belief or ethnic origin. 

Please send your application including a motivation letter, your CV, copies of academic certificates, and the names and addresses of two references by email to bewerbung@igzev.de in a single pdf format by November 10, 2024.

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