The Helmholtz Association is providing long-term investment for the establishment of a new Research Group on Land Use Change at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology’s Campus Alpin (IMK-IFU) located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen ().

This Group aims to advance knowledge of the causes and consequences of change in socio-ecological systems from local to global scales by: a) understanding the fundamental principles that underpin the interactions between people and their environment and encoding these in simulation models; b) evaluating global change futures, including changes arising from climate, social preferences, economics, technology and policy governance; and, c) analyzing the interplay between the human and biophysical components of the Earth System, including land surface feedbacks to the climate system. We are currently recruiting up to 5 new postdoctoral researchers with interests in one or more of the following fields:

1. Land use and land cover change;
2. Global food systems and food security;
3. Human decision making in land use and environmental change;
4. Feedbacks from the land surface to the climate system;
5. Ecosystem services and natural capital;
6. Climate change impacts and adaptation assessment.

A description of the aims of the Land Use Change Research Group with example research questions can be found here: . The positons are offered for 2 years in the first place, with the potential for extension by a further 4 years, subject to performance, and the individual funding sources of the positions. The positions will also entail some contribution to teaching and group administration. Salary will be equivalent to the public service TV-L EG13, de-pending on qualifications and experience.

Qualifications

You will have a PhD degree in a relevant discipline, and strong quantitative skills, for example, in computer modelling and the analysis of large scale datasets. Experience with statistical analysis, scenario analysis, GIS and computational social sciences is desirable. We also seek candidates with computer programming skills and experience with high-end computing. You will need to have proficiency in the English language, both spoken and in writing.

Applications

Applications should be sent by email to Prof Mark Rounsevell (mark.rounsevell@kit.edu) by 16 December 2016, quoting the reference number LUCRG0001. Please send a copy of your CV including a publication list (with citations), a short (1-2 page) letter of motivation and contact details for 2 referees. The motivation letter should clearly state which of the above topics you are interested in, and how you feel you could contribute, in view of the details provided here: .

Applications that are incomplete or do not address these criteria will not be considered. Interviews will be held during the period 7-9 February 2017.

Further information can be obtained from Prof. Mark Rounsevell (mark.rounsevell@kit.edu) & Prof. Almut Arneth (almut.arneth@kit.edu).

KIT strives to achieve gender balance at all levels of employment. We therefore particularly encourage female candidates to apply for this position. With appropriate qualifications, applications from persons with handicaps will be treated with preference.