PhD position (65%, TV-L E13) on Behavioural factors affecting adoption of sustainable farming practices in Uzbekistan

We are looking for an early-career researcher (m/f/x) who is motivated to improve the understanding of the decision-making processes and choices of sustainable agricultural practices among farmers in Uzbekistan. To study farmers’ behaviour, the selected candidate will conduct economic experiments and engage with the project team in collecting nationally representative farm-level data in selected regions of Uzbekistan and provide teaching during two training seminars (2 full days per year) in Tashkent. Academic support will be provided by the national partner – Westminster International University in Tashkent (https://www.wiut.uz/).

We expect:

1. MSc. degree or equivalent in agricultural economics, development economics, behavioural economics, or a related field;
2. Expertise in econometric /programming skills using STATA, or readiness to develop these skills;
3. Interest in microeconomic and econometric analysis;
4. First experience in primary data collection (including experimental and/or survey work) is desirable;
5. Research experience in Central Asia and in the proposed research topic is of advantage;
6. Individual commitment to research;
7. Strong written and oral communication skills in English. Communication skills in Russian and Uzbek languages are desirable;
8. Communicability, openness and integrability into international team work.

We offer:

1. A unique research and qualification opportunity within a team of young scientists in IAMO and its International Central Asia Research Group;
2. Participation in the German Doctoral Certificate Programme in Agricultural Economics (www.agraroekonomik.de) with teaching in English language;
3. Institutional support to organisation and collection of relevant data in Uzbekistan;
4. Daily supervisory support to model development, data analysis, simulations and thesis write-up;
5. Opportunity to conduct research with (policy) impact;
6. Financial support to participation in international and regional academic conferences;
7. Support to the preparation of publications for topical peer-reviewed journals.

The successful candidate will become a member of the IAMO Graduate School and apply for a doctoral degree from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. During the analysis and writing-up period of the dissertation, the doctoral student will be based at IAMO in Halle (Saale), while the field research is supposed to be conducted in Uzbekistan. Financial support to travel and data collection is available.

IAMO is an equal-opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from female candidates. Disabled applicants with adequate qualifications will be preferentially considered.

Application:

Interested candidates should send a set of application documents in English language that include:

1. Letter of motivation (maximum 1 page);
2. Curriculum vitae;
3. Copies of all relevant transcripts and certificates of bachelor, master or equivalent courses as well as English language certificates, if the MSc thesis was not written in English[1];
4. Research concept on the proposed topic with the suggestion of objectives and methodology (maximum 2 pages);
5. Names and contact information of two academic referees.

This set of application documents should be sent by email as a single pdf file to application.agpolicy@iamo.de. Applicants are requested to also submit electronic copies of their master/diploma thesis and (co-) authored scientific publications, if available. Application deadline: 16 June 2023. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview via email.

Questions regarding the position can be sent to Dr. Nodir Djanibekov via e-mail: djanibekov@iamo.de

About us:

IAMO is a research institute, a foundation under public law, that pursues basic and applied research in the field of agricultural economics with a focus on the formerly centrally planned economies of Europe and Asia. It offers an excellent infrastructure and a stimulating research environment in an international, ambitious, and multidisciplinary team. IAMO is a member of the Leibniz Association, a German network of nonuniversity research institutes. The city of Halle is located in Eastern Germany, near Leipzig, and offers an attractive and affordable living environment.

Equality of opportunity is part of our personnel policy. Female researchers are strongly encouraged to apply. Disabled applicants with adequate qualifications will be preferentially considered. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews via email.

[1] Please note that applicants with foreign degrees have to provide a “Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications” issued by "Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen" (Central Office for Foreign Education – ZAB) at the time of recruitment. This statement must be applied for by the certificate holder and is subject to a fee. For more information, please visit https://www.kmk.org/zeugnisbewertung.

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