Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg

The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is a nationally and internationally active research institute and member of the Leibniz Association. ZALF aims for excellent and integrated research with societal impact to support an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society. Launching in 2026, ZALF's Innovation Centre for Agricultural System Transformation (IAT) will operate as a permanent structural unit with 19 new working groups in Müncheberg, Kassel, Giessen and Geisenheim. The IAT will pioneer research in agricultural living lab contexts, working closely with diverse societal actors to co-develop, test and evaluate land use systems, value networks, and innovative solutions for sustainable transformation. Joining the IAT offers a unique opportunity to actively shape its development and contribute to cutting-edge, impact-driven research. The advertised position is part of a cluster focused on the "Co-design of land use systems” offering collaboration across different disciplines and research groups. More information: Innovation Centre for Agricultural System Transformation.

With its Tenure Track System, ZALF aims to recruit excellent scientists with core expertise aligned with the IAT by guaranteeing a permanent contract upon successful evaluation.

We are offering at our IAT campus in Geisenheim a full-time position as

Tenure Track scientist as working group head (m/f/d) on "Co-developed nature-based solutions in wine growing landscapes”

Call description

This Classic Tenure Track Call invites applications with a focus on transdisciplinary research for co-developing wine growing landscapes. Research will center on integrative, multifunctional strategies on agroecological and nature-based solutions for climate protection and climate adaptation to cope with extreme weather events and to improve landscape functions and ecosystem services. The position will address the future evolution of vineyard landscapes with a priority on sustainable landscape water management in areas with different geoecological characteristics that include anthropogenic features and structures. The research will follow a co-design approach considering knowledge, expertise and demand of various stakeholders within living labs. The activity will link up with the five IAT living labs and the research groups at ZALF and Hochschule Geisenheim University. Therefore, the position is supported by the IAT organizational structure.

In particular, the successful candidate should bring in skills, expertise, as well as willingness to develop in the following areas:

• quantification of multiple impacts of climate change on wine-growing landscapes, landscape functions and ecosystem services
• quantitative numerical approaches to assess landscape functions and ecosystem services such as water retention, soil erosion control or carbon sequestration, and their sensitivity and/or adaptability to climate change
• co-develop nature-based solutions to strengthen landscape multifunctionality and especially landscape water balance
• active cooperations with the other working groups in the five IAT living labs as well as with the research groups at Hochschule Geisenheim University and ZALF
• establish and lead this new working group
• acquisition of third-party funding and supervision of early career researchers.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in agricultural sciences, landscape or spatial planning, geography, hydrology or related areas. The candidate will have significant experience in transdisciplinary research in agricultural landscapes with a focus on landscape water management. Basic German language skills and a willingness to improve is required to allow interaction with actors in the living lab regions. Preliminary experience in scientific leadership is expected. Applicants must 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.

We offer

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to the design and establishment of the new IAT and become part of a new interdisciplinary research team in an inspiring and challenging research environment. The successful candidate will receive a Regular Tenure Track position (2 x 3 years) with transition to a permanent position, subject to successful evaluations (midterm and final tenure evaluation). I If candidates are not legally eligible for two consecutive fixed-term contracts (according to the German academic employment law – WissZeitVG), a Fast Tenure Track (1 phase) may be negotiated if the required scientific achievements are fulfilled.

Further

• full-time contract, 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 up to E14
• individual options for career support such as a mentoring tandem, courses & trainings
• a transdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• aervice groups and support for stakeholder management and living lab coordination, as well as for data management and computation
• access to a network of national and international scientific partners in the field of research
• a collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• relocation within commuting distance of the IAT location is welcome; remote working is permitted up to 40% per month
• company ticket for public transport
• The place of work is at the IAT campus in proximity to the Hochschule Geisenheim University, a university of the state of Hesse near Wiesbaden with around 1,500 students and 550 employees; the university offers a teaching and research spectrum in the fields of plants, landscape, food and beverages that is unique in Germany.

Application and candidate selection

ZALF is an equal opportunities employer (audit berufundfamilie® certificate) and specifically encourages female scientists to apply. Applications of disabled applicants with equal qualifications will be favored.

Application documents must follow the specifications given in the respective guideline available at the ZALF website (www.zalf.de/en/karriere/tenure-track) and include two standardized letters of recommendation of scientists who are familiar with your research accomplishments and academic credentials (template available here: Reference Letter). This call has reference to the special conditions of IAT Tenure Track positions.

Candidate selection is based on scientific achievements, strategic aspects, and personal suitability. 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 (Tenure Track guideline). Please send your application, preferably online (see link below). For e-mail application, create a single PDF file and send it to tenuretrack(at)zalf.de stating the reference number IAT-T04-2025 .

The deadline for applications is September 8, 2025.

If you have any questions regarding the research profile of this position, please contact Prof. Dr. Sonoko Bellingrath-Kimura (Phone -49(0)-33432/82-207, belks(at)zalf.de).For questions regarding the Tenure Track System, please contact Dr. Andrea Kern (Phone +49(0)33432/82-689; andrea.kern(at)zalf.de).

The filling of the position is subject to the final decision on the provision of institutional funding. If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR only for the processing of your application and for purposes that result from possible future employment with ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months. You can find further information at: www.zalf.de/en/ueber_uns/Pages/Datenschutzerklaerung.aspx