Postdoctoral researcher; m​/f​/d in collaborative and interdisciplinary social-ecological system

Postdoctoral researcher (m/f/d) in collaborative and interdisciplinary social-ecological systems analysis

NEU

The Cluster of Excellence Future Forests is looking for a Postdoctoral researcher (m/f/d) in collaborative and interdisciplinary social-ecological systems analysis.

Full-time, fixed-term until 2029 (3 years)

Remuneration according to TV‑L 13

Starting date: as soon as possible

The Excellence Cluster Future Forests (FuFo) at the University of Freiburg invites applications for a Postdoctoral position in collaborative,
interdisciplinary
social-ecological systems analysis.

The Excellence Cluster Future Forests at the University of Freiburg is an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to questions of adaptation and transformation of forests and their societal use in the face of global change. Future‑oriented research on the complex interactions between forests and society is conducted here with outstanding international visibility, supported by the German Research Foundation. Future Forests brings together more than 50 researchers from four faculties as well as non‑university partner institutions.

The postdoctoral researcher will join the team of the theme “Multi‑and interdisciplinary conceptualisations of novel forest SESs” which works on the conceptual foundations, (modelling) methodologies and development of theories of forests as complex, adaptive social‑ecological systems (SES). The position includes i) conceptual research in an interdisciplinary environment with the aim to contribute to the development of the FuFo SES framework and conceptual models of forests as SES, and ii) collaborative research with empirical researchers from the natural and social sciences to theorise processes of forest adaptation and transformation.

Research activities will involve eliciting, reviewing and synthesising existing forest conceptualisations, fostering dialogue and co‑learning across FuFo themes, exploring selected case studies to clarify key concepts and enhance understandings of forest adaptation and transformation pathways (A&TPs) and developing conceptual and potentially simulation models of forest adaptation and transformation processes. While the working place is Freiburg/Germany, the researcher will work in close collaboration with Prof.

Maja Schlüter and team at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, and is expected to spend a reasonable amount of time each year in Stockholm.

• Independent scientific research in the field of social‑ecological systems analysis, with an emphasis on complex adaptive systems and new materialist perspectives
• Facilitating interdisciplinary dialogue and co‑learning activities in the cluster with the aim to co‑develop a conceptual forest SES framework and conceptual models
• Theorising selected forest adaptation or transformation processes using agent‑based modelling or relational methodologies
• Involvement in project coordination, particularly the link between Uni Freiburg and the team at Stockholm University
• Contribution to scientific publications and presentations at national and international conferences as well as networking and community building for SES‑theory and research on the forest‑society interface
• Active involvement in and contributions to cluster activities, workshops, and outreach events

• PhD/doctoral degree in sustainability or environmental science, anthropology, human geography, science technology studies, ecology, social‑ecological modelling/analysis or other fields of immediate relevance to the position
• Enthusiasm or proven experience in philosophy of science and/or agent‑based modelling, and/or relational philosophies
• Skills in conceptual analysis, theorising and/or agent‑based modelling
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Proficient written and spoken English
• Experience in scientific writing (publications)
• Experience in interdisciplinary collaboration
• Willingness to work at Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University approximately 3 months/year to collaborate with Schlüter and colleagues

• An exciting interdisciplinary environment within an internationally renowned researchers at…