Researcher in Social Sciences, Horizon Europe Project; m​/w​/d

Project Overview

The role supports the NEMESIS and Land Shift Horizon Europe projects, which focus on combating desertification and developing climate‑resilient land management.

• Participate in NEMESIS, contributing to transdisciplinary Living Labs and stakeholder governance.
• Participate in Land Shift, developing a data‑driven, community‑powered framework for climate‑resilient land management across Europe.
• Co‑develop, coordinate, and provide scientific support for tasks within the project. Tasks will be adapted to the candidate's expertise and may include:

• Implementation of an ethics and Open Access policy for Living Labs and co‑development of a Responsible Innovation Monitoring Framework.
• Design and conduct participatory future workshops and social learning formats.
• Develop and apply methods for inclusive, participatory knowledge generation and stakeholder engagement.
• Facilitate interactive, multi‑actor processes and methods for inclusive participatory and social learning.
• Systematically consider ethics, gender equality, transparency, and fairness in all Living Labs.
• (Co‑)develop and coordinate a digital educational offering for Living Labs (e.g., webinars, e‑learning modules, videos).
• Plan and implement regional training formats and stakeholder training with project partners (e.g., platform and digital application usage).
• Contribute to knowledge transfer and co‑design online training activities and materials for key actors in the agricultural sector.

• Completed PhD or MA degree and additional project‑relevant qualifications in Education, Sociology, Sustainable Agriculture, Technology/Innovation Studies, Political Science, or a related social science discipline.
• Sound knowledge of participatory and qualitative methods (e.g., co‑creation workshops, Living Labs, participatory action research, ethnography, focus groups, social learning).
• Experience in participating in EU‑level research projects and/or transdisciplinary collaboration.
• Knowledge of didactics, instructional design, and digital education, possibly with experience in adult education or e‑learning is advantageous.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
  German language skills are an advantage.
• Ability to work in a goal‑oriented manner in an interdisciplinary and international research context.
• Independent, structured, and proactive work style, strong teamwork and communication skills, and reliability.

Depending on the candidate's profile, the position can start in spring 2026 and is limited to a term of 3 years.

Please apply with a copy of your most recent curriculum vitae (including current or expected degrees and results of all university or otherwise relevant examinations), a motivation letter describing the reasons for wishing this academic position in the given area (1‑2 pages) and the names of two to three academic referees.

The University enables equal opportunities for all employees and students. This applies to degree courses and work, as well as academic careers, university management positions and the reconciliation of studies, work and private commitments. We are committed to this with various measures in the areas of teaching, research, administration and the Presidency.