At the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ in Leipzig, Germany (Department of Ecological Modelling) the Junior Research Group “”POLISES - Global food security policies and their social-ecological side effects in regions prone to global change”
() funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is established. In this group the following vacancy is offered at the nearest possible date:

PhD Position (m/f)

Subject: Social-ecological impacts of financial risk-coping policy instruments – an agent-based modelling approach

Working hours 25,36 hours per week, limited to 3 years

Your duties:

• Develop social-ecological simulation models for livestock (and crop) farmers in drylands
• Explore impacts of financial risk-coping policy instruments such as rain index-insurances on land use in African countries under different processes of global change
• Detect side effects of financial risk-coping policy instruments on the social-ecological system using modelling
• Exchange knowledge with local and international stakeholders relevant in this research context

Your profile:

• An excellent master’s degree in a relevant field of research, including system sciences, mathematics, physics, geography, (geo-)ecology
• Expertise in modelling and analysing complex systems (knowledge in land use modelling is beneficial)
• Proficiency in computer programming (e.g. C++ and Java) and advanced statistical methods
• Deep interest in sustainable land use and food security in developing countries (preferably in drylands)
• Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English and ambition to publish in international journals (sound knowledge of French is beneficial)
• High motivation to work in an international and interdisciplinary team and interest in stays abroad for up to three months

We offer:

• Excellent technical facilities which are without parallel
• The freedom you need to bridge the difficult gap between high level basic research and application oriented research & development
• Work in an inter-disciplinary, multinational team
• Excellent links with national and international research networks
• Excellent support and optimal subject-specific and general training with our HIGRADE graduate school
• Remuneration in accordance with the TVöD public-sector pay grade 13 (65%)

We look forward to receiving your e-mail
application quoting the reference 67/2014 at
[email protected]

Closing date for applications: 30.09.2014

Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ
Human Resources Department
Permoserstraße 15
04318 Leipzig
Germany

Equal opportunities are an integral part of our personnel policy, we therefore particularly welcome applications from qualified women.
Severely disabled persons are given priority when applicants are equally qualified.

Your contact for any questions
you may have about the job:
Dr. Birgit Müller
E-mail: [email protected]

Place of work: Leipzig