Fachbereich Geowissenschaften - Institut für Geographische Wissenschaften in Berlin

The Working Group “Modelling Human-Environmental Interactions” of the Institute of Geographical Sciences at Freie Universität Berlin, led by Prof. Dr. María Piquer-Rodríguez, is dedicated to uncovering the intricate relationships between human activities and the environment. Through innovative tools, methods, and a deep commitment to sustainability and justice, we explore how societies shape—and are shaped by—their surroundings. Our research focuses on rural and agricultural landscapes, where we analyze land-use dynamics and the ripple effects of these changes on ecosystems and the wellbeing of communities to understand their broader impacts. By integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches, including advanced cartography, we visualize the complex interactions between human actions and environmental outcomes to inform sustainable regional planning and assess how policies can foster a harmonious balance between human needs and ecological health. At the heart of our work is a caring, inclusive, and collaborative environment. We embrace diversity, nurture team spirit, and foster a productive atmosphere where creativity and compassion go hand in hand.

More about us: https://www.geo.fu-berlin.de/en/geog/fachrichtungen/menschumwelt/Modelling-Human-Environmental-Interactions/About-us/index.html

Job Description

This position is financed by the DFG Priority Programme “Sustainability and Resilience of Agri-Food Chains in Times of multiple Crises? Towards a joint and critical understanding (Agri-Food Chains)” (SPP 2575). It investigates the entanglement of sustainability and resilience in agri-food chains in times of multiple crises and addresses the overarching question: How can agri-food chains be sustainable and resilient in times of multiple crises? For information on the conceptual background of the SPP it is recommended to consult Follmann et al. 2024 (DIE ERDE–Journal of the Geographical Society of Berlin, 155(1), 29–48.).

Required

The title of our 3-year funded project is “Post-growth Resilience & Integrated Sustainability in Multi-level German–Guatemala Palm Oil Value Chains (PRISM-GG)”. The overarching objective of this project is to co-develop post-growth strategies that realign sustainability and resilience in the German-Guatemalan palm oil value chain, fostering synergies and reducing trade-offs, vulnerabilities, externalities and asymmetries across regions. These strategies encompass the land-use configurations and governance frameworks required to operationalize such transitions in practice. This alignment is crucial to address the inherent contradictions within the sustainability–resilience nexus, where growth-oriented resilience often reinforces ecological degradation and social inequity. By grounding transitions in post-growth principles, the project explores pathways to reconfigure governance and land-use systems toward regenerative, distributive, and co-responsible modes of organization across German-Guatemalan palm oil value chains.The main tasks for this position are:

• Empirical Mapping of Actors, Linkages, and Interdependencies (Field work)
• Spatial Analysis and Scenario Modeling of Governance Innovations
• Analyzing Vulnerabilities, Asymmetries, and Externalities of Sustainability–Resilience interactions
• Co-design Participatory Workshops (Fieldwork)
• Synthesis and Translation into Policy and Practice

Requirements

• Completed university degree (master’s degree) in Geography, Ecology, Forestry, Environmental governance or a related relevant discipline.
• Completed doctoral degree (PhD) in Geography, Landscape ecology, Production ecology, or a related relevant field.

Desirable

• Demonstrated experience in planning and conducting interdisciplinary scientific research projects
• practical experience with geospatial data analysis, social-ecological systems analysis and mixed-methods techniques
• Experience in the preparation of scientific publications in English
• excellent written and spoken English communication skills (B2/C1) and knowledge of Spanish (B2/C1).
• Research experience in land-use planning, resources conservation, ecosystem services modelling, and agricultural commodities and value chains in Latin America.
• Expertise in spatial modelling and data integration, including the use of spatial models for ecosystem services and the integration of diverse environmental, socioeconomic, and spatial datasets.
• Statistical analysis skills, including experience with R and other data-analysis tools.
• Experience engaging with agricultural value-chain actors, including commodity producers and other relevant stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the agricultural producing sector, the institutional context and the environmental policy framework of Guatemala.
• Expertise in designing and developing fieldwork campaigns independently
• strong interest in developing innovative conceptual sustainability frameworks to analyze and support the redesign of international agricultural commodity chains toward sustainable and resilient configurations.
• Ability to work independently in a structured and organized manner, while contributing effectively to collaborative, interdisciplinary research teams.
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills, collegiality, respect for diversity and with demonstrated willingness to work in international and interdisciplinary research environments.
• German communication skills (A2) or willingness to acquire German language skills within a reasonable timeframe.

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