Heidelberg University is a comprehensive university with a strong focus on research and international standards. With around 32,200 students and 9,540 employees, including numerous top researchers, it is a globally respected institution that also has outstanding economic significance for the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.

The Institute of Geography at Heidelberg University invites applications for a three-year postdoctoral position within the international research project CoReS, which develops and tests a new Science-Stories-Solidarity (S³) Hybrid Risk Framework for understanding compound climate risks and strengthening community resilience in highly exposed territories. The project brings together partners from Europe, Africa, East Asia, and the Caribbean and combines quantitative climate-risk modelling, participatory narrative methods, and solidarity-based approaches to resilience. Heidelberg University leads Work Package 3: Inclusive Narrative Co-Production and Intergenerational Futuring, which ensures that lived experience, informal adaptation practices, and intergenerational knowledge are integrated directly into climate-risk analysis rather than treated as supplementary evidence.

At the Institute of Geography, the following position is to be filled:

Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d)

3 years, 75 or 100%

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and coordinate participatory research across the three case-study regions
• Design and facilitate workshops combining climate-risk maps and scenarios with storytelling, visual, and other qualitative methods
• Analyze community perceptions of compound climate risk, vulnerability, adaptation, and future resilience pathways
• Prepare scientific publications and conference contributions and collaborate closely with project partners, community organizations, and other stakeholders
• Contribute to project integration, dissemination, meetings, and selected coordination tasks

WP3 uses a three-workshop cycle at each site: (1) past and present risk experiences, (2) future scenarios and resilience pathways, and (3) validating and integrating scientific and community-based knowledge.

Research profile:

We are looking for a researcher with a strong background in human geography, environmental social science, climate adaptation, sustainability science, development studies, disaster-risk research, or a related field.

Applicants should have:

• A completed PhD in a relevant field
• Demonstrated expertise in qualitative research methods, especially with participatory, community-based, or co-production methodologies
• Experience in analyzing qualitative data using systematic coding and comparative approaches
• Excellent written and spoken English and basic/good understanding of Spanish
• The ability to work independently while contributing to and cooperating with an interdisciplinary and international research team
• Strong organizational, communication, and facilitation skills
• Willingness and ability to undertake international fieldwork in all the case studies

What we offer:

The position offers the opportunity to play a major scientific role in an ambitious international research collaboration at the intersection of climate-risk science, participatory research, and community resilience.

The successful candidate will work within an interdisciplinary and internationally connected research environment and will have substantial opportunities for methodological development, comparative international research, fieldwork, publication, and academic networking.

The position will also provide opportunities to collaborate directly with researchers working on remote sensing, compound-hazard modelling, climate adaptation, resilience governance, and solidarity economy approaches.

The position is offered for three years and is based at the University of Heidelberg. The preferred starting date is April 1st, 2027, or earlier. The position is 75% or 100% (depending on request).

Remuneration is based on salary grade 13 under the TV-L collective agreement. The monthly gross salary for the respective salary grade is determined in accordance with the collective agreement (TV-L Remuneration Schedule) and the applicable assignment to a salary step. The current salary tables for the State of Baden-Württemberg can be found here: lbv.landbw.de/leistungen-und-services/gehaltstabellen.

Application:

Application documents should include:

• Cover letter outlining your motivation and relevant experiences
• Curriculum vitae
• Publication list
• Copies of relevant degree certificates
• One representative publication or writing sample
• Contact details for two academic referees

Please submit applications by December 15th, 2026, to Ute Bechberger (bechberger@uni-heidelberg.de).

For questions about the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Susann Schäfer (susann.schaefer@uni-heidelberg.de).

Heidelberg University stands for equal opportunities and diversity. Persons with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are equally qualified. Information on job advertisements and the collection of personal data is available at www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/job-market.