Research Assistant in forest sciences/socioeconomics (f/m/d)
The Institute of Forest Management at the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forests, and Fisheries, located in Hamburg, is looking from 01/01/2027 until 12/21/2027 for a full-time (current working hours 39 hours/week) research assistant in forest sciences/socioeconomics with international research experience (f/m/d) to join the Worldwide Forest Management work area.
The team at Forestry Worldwide at the Thünen Institute Forestry is dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management and forest restoration, as well as improving forest-dependent livelihoods around the world, with a particular focus on tropical regions. In our research, we assess ecosystem services and existing governance structures and conduct socio-economic surveys at both national and local levels. To strengthen our socio-economic research, we are looking for a PhD-qualified expert with international work experience to cover a parental leave position.
The employment relationship is based on the TVöD Bund collective agreement and, if the tariff and personal requirements are met, is paid according to pay group 13 TVöD Bund – which corresponds to an annual salary of €62,489.15 to €89,579.84 for full-time employment.
Your tasksYour tasks
- Research and concept development in topics related to Small Scale Forestry in the tropics, for example strengthening the competitiveness of forest-based value chains of small farmers in the Global South, financial instruments to involve small farmers in forest landscape restoration and reforation programs, access and benefit sharing of incentive programs, living labs for Forest Landscape Restoration, or similar.
- Analysis of existing datasets from the projects LaForeT, FLESRA, Smallholder-Teak and publication, possibly in combination with evaluation of freely available data sources, or alternatively, preparation of a review or perspectives paper
- Support with writing project proposals and project acquisition, also for securing your own position in the above-mentioned topics
- Advising BMLEH and other decision-makers
Your profilYour profil
Your professional profil:
- university degree (university diploma, M.Sc) in forestry and a socioeconomic focus, agricultural sciences with a strong forestry connection, or a similar degree
- completed doctoral degree in a relevant field
- very good analytical skills and proven experience in quantitative and participatory methods
- proven experience in designing and conducting research projects; experience in acquiring third-party funding is desirable
- Competitive publication record in international journals on the topics mentioned above
- Work experience in the tropics or Central Asia
Your personal profile:
- You enjoy working scientifically in interdisciplinary and international project settings and application-oriented contexts
- high level of initiative and organizational skills, independent working style, structured and goal-oriented approach, and good time management
- strong cooperation, communication, and team skills
- Ability to present complex issues clearly and appropriately for the audience
- very good English skills, both spoken and written as well as knowledge of the German language
- Willingness and ability to travel for work (including multi-day trips), even to the tropics
Our offerOur offer
- Responsibility and a sense of purpose: responsible work in a dedicated team, involvement in a dynamic, interdisciplinary research institute and proximity to current policy and practice-relevant topics
- Flexibility and work-life balance: flexible working time models, fundamental possibility of part-time employment as well as mobile working and teleworking, certified employer berufundfamilie audit with a wide range of offers for reconciling work and life phases
- Prospects: further training opportunities for the area of responsibility and individual development
- Benefits: employment based on collective agreements with attractive social benefits (e.g. company pension scheme, one-off annual payment, capital-forming benefits)
- Health: company health management and preventative healthcare programmes
- Mobility: JobTicket, public transport connections, free parking spaces and the option of using e-charging stations
The Thünen Institute promotes professional equality for women and men and therefore expressly welcomes applications from women.
We live a diverse and cosmopolitan coexistence. The Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute is committed to inclusion. Applications from people with severe disabilities are therefore expressly encouraged. They will be given preferential consideration in the selection process. Please enclose proof of severe disability or equal status with your application.
Dr. Sven Günter (Mail: sven.guenter@thuenen.de) is available to answer technical questions.
If you have an international degree, please also enclose a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. If you do not yet have a certificate evaluation, you must apply for one if your application is successful. You can find further information at https://zab.kmk.org/de/zeugnisbewertung
We are looking forward to receiving your application by December 07, 2026.
