Integrated Agricultural Systems Researcher (Tenure Track)

The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e.V. is pleased to announce a 

Tenure Track Position for an Integrated Agricultural Systems Researcher

[Reference N° T02-2018]

ZALF is a member of the Leibniz Association and, with its 350 employees, one of the largest research institutions in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. It is our mission to scientifically explain causal relationships in agricultural landscapes and to provide society with a knowledge-base for the sustainable use of agricultural landscapes. ZALF research stands for scientific excellence and societal relevance, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary research addressing the Grand Societal Challenges relevant in the context of agricultural landscapes such as climate change, food and nutrition security and the sustainability of production.

With its Tenure Track System, ZALF aims to recruit excellent scientists with essential expertise by providing a guaranteed transitioning to a permanent contract subject to successful evaluation.

Call description

This Classic Tenure Call invites applications with a clear focus on integrated agricultural systems research to enhance ZALF’s expertise in understanding and developing agricultural systems in agreement with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The successful candidate will use established and new methods to study and develop agricultural systems such as integrated modelling, impact assessment, meta-analysis, big data approaches and/or systems experimentation within an ecosystem, farming system or landscape context. Developed methods and applications will bridge two or more organisational levels like plant/crop, ecosystem, farming system or landscape and integrate related soil-plant, ecophysiological, agro-ecological and/or socio-economic relationships across spatio-temporal scales.

The call is addressed to dynamic and highly motivated, preferably early career researchers, who have demonstrated their capacity to independently carry out research, including an excellent publication record, successfully acquired competitive third-party funding, and visibility in their respective field of research.

The successful candidate will receive a Regular Tenure Track position (2 x 2-3 years), with progress to the subsequent phase subject to successful evaluation. If candidates are not legally eligible for two consecutive fixed-term contracts, they may enter the Fast Tenure Track if the required scientific achievements are fulfilled.

Tenure contracts are generally offered as full-time contracts, with part-time option to allow for the reconciliation of family and career. Salary will follow the guidelines for public employees according to the German TV-L, depending on the personal situation up to the level of 14 TV-L. Working place is Müncheberg near Berlin, Germany. The successful candidate will be offered individual options for career support such as a mentoring tandem, courses and trainings as well as variable options to access scientific resources.

ZALF is an equal opportunities employer (audit berufundfamilie® certificate) and specifically encourages female scientists to apply. Applications of mentally and physically challenged applicants will be favoured if they are equally qualified.

Your application should include:

• a max. 2-page application letter describing your main research achievements and your scientific goal(s)
• a max. 2-page summary of your future research plan in the above-described research area
• a C.V. including continuous employment history (monthly resolution), a list of publications highlighting the 3 most important papers, a list of acquired third-party funds (as principal investigator or work-package coordinator), and other scientific achievements
• 2 letters of recommendation of scientists who are familiar with your research accomplishments and academic credentials

Evaluation is based on scientific achievements (70%), strategic aspects (20%), and personal suitability (10%). Details on criteria, minimum requirements and evaluation processes can be obtained from the ZALF Tenure Track System guideline, which is an official annex to this call: http://www.zalf.de/de/karriere/tenure-track/Documents/20180201_ZALF-Tenure_Track_System_final_signed.pdf

The deadline for applications is 04 June 2018.

Contact for questions: Dr. Ulrike Hagemann (Phone +49(0)33432/82-449; ulrike.hagemann@zalf.de)