PRIF - Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main

PRIF – Peace Research Institute Frankfurt

The Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) analyses the causes of international and intrastate conflicts. As one of the leading peace research institutes in Europe, we combine interdisciplinary basic research with science transfer to the public, the media and policymakers. Since 2009, the PRIF has been a member of the Leibniz Association, a national umbrella organization of outstanding non-university research institutes in Germany. PRIF is headquartered in Frankfurt and has a branch office in Berlin. More than 100 employees from research, administration and science communication contribute to PRIF's success. We are looking for a new colleague to join our CNTR Research Group "Chemical and Biological Weapons Control” that is part of our Research Department I "International Security” as soon as possible.

One researcher (postdoc) (m/f/d) in full-time, in Salary Group 13 TV-H*, for the duration of 2 years (acc. to WissZeitVG**).

The position is part of the Research Group on Chemical and Biological Weapons Control that was recently established within the new Cluster for Natural and Technical Science Arms Control Research (CNTR) set up by PRIF in cooperation with the Technical University Darmstadt (TUDa) and Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU). The Cluster is partly funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. The CNTR Research Group on CBW control is led by Prof. Dr. P. R. Schreiner (JLU, Institute of Organic Chemistry) and Dr. U. Jakob (PRIF). The group works at the intersection of natural sciences and peace research. It aims to scrutinize current issues in biological and chemical weapons control in an interdisciplinary way from the perspectives of natural, technical and political sciences and to develop technologically informed policy options for practitioners.

Your responsibilities include:

• Science-based research on the disarmament and non-proliferation of chemical weapons, e.g. on applications of artificial intelligence (AI).
• Monitoring, tracking and assessing relevant scientific and technological developments in chemistry and/or other relevant scientific disciplines, including through the annual CNTR Monitor.
• Contributing to the organisation of relevant workshops and conferences as well as writing of grant applications.
• Publication of research results for various audiences.
• Participation in research on the cross-cutting issues ‘artificial intelligence’ and ‘verification’ within the Cluster.
• Collaboration with colleagues at the Cluster, at PRIF and at JLU.
• Support for the local, national, and international networking activities of the Research Group, the Cluster and all partners.
• In addition, we expect a willingness to collaborate in an interdisciplinary context and to communicate research results to the political and general public. We also expect participation in the committees and overall work contexts of PRIF and JLU as well as your presence at the workplaces in Frankfurt and Giessen.

As applicant, you should fulfill the following requirements:

• An above-average degree in pertinent sub-disciplines of the natural sciences, in particular in chemistry.
• Doctorate in chemistry.
• Practical experience in the application of AI in chemistry.
• Research interests in the area of chemical weapons control and disarmament or chemical security, protection and defense (previous experience in these areas is an advantage, but not a precondition).
• Willingness to work and cooperate in interdisciplinary project teams and to engage with political research questions.
• Very good spoken and written command of English.

You can expect:

• Flexible hours that allow for the balance of work time and family life with the possibility to work remotely according to an internal guideline.
• A motivated, multi-cultural team of international researchers.
• A discounted Deutschlandticket.***
• A company pension scheme provided by the VBL.****

PRIF is a recipient of the Total E-Quality award and seeks to promote equal representation in the workforce at all levels and aims to strengthen work/life balance. Therefore, this position can be filled part- or full-time. In the case of equal qualification, applicants with severe disabilities will be treated preferentially.

Please send your application documents (cover letter, complete CV (without a photo), education and work certificates, references, outline of your research project) as a single PDF to application(at)prif.org with a subject line that consists of your name and the code " CNTR_25.2 ” (e.g. "Mustermann,Max_ CNTR_25.2 ”). Please note that there is no application deadline for this application process. Applications will be reviewed in an ongoing manner until the position is filled. Unfortunately, application expenses cannot be reimbursed.

* TV-H = Tarifvertrag für den Öffentlichen Dienst des Landes Hessen: Current Tariff Agreement for the German State of Hesse.

** WissZeitVG = Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz: Act on Fixed-Term Employment Contracts in Academia.

*** Deutschlandticket = A ticket that allows for the use of local public transport, such as busses and trains.

**** VBL = Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder: Pension Institution of the Federal and State Governments.