Humboldt-Universität, Berlin

The Faculty for Mathematics and Natural Sciences of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Geography Department, has an open position for a W1 Professorship in Human Geography and Global Transitions (with tenure track to W3) to be filled as soon as possible.

The Geography Department seeks to fill the position of a Juniorprofessorship (W1, 100 %) with a tenure track to a permanent professorship (W3 level, 100 %). In order to verify whether the individual performance meets the requirements of a permanent employment, an evaluation process will be opened not later than after four years. Tenure track professors at HU Berlin are expected to carry out research and teaching, as well as be active on various university committees, in the promotion of young scientists and acquire leadership and management skills. The concrete requirements from the framework catalogue [https://hu.berlin/tenuretrack_katalog] will be specified during the appointment process.

We seek a candidate with an outstanding record on Global Transitions and Changes (research, third-party funding, Awards). The candidate should have a PhD in Geography or a social science discipline. The candidate should explore global socioeconomic changes within either economic geography, development geography, or demographic changes. A strong expertise in quantitative research methods is a must. We seek individuals with the vision and ability to build an innovative internationally recognized and interdisciplinary research program. We expect active collaboration with other research groups at the department, at HU Berlin, and beyond. A commitment to innovative teaching and to an inclusive institutional culture is required.

We offer a tenure track position in an interdisciplinary, international, young and vibrant department with an excellent scientific and education track record. The successful candidate will join a department focused on globalization, climate change, land use change, sustainability science, urban studies and human-environment relations. The salary will be according to W1 level and, after successful tenure evaluation, W3 level. Employment at HU Berlin offers all benefits of the German public service system, including health insurance, an attractive pension plan, and social benefits. Standard professorial duties include research (incl. advising PhD and postdoc researchers), teaching (incl. examinations and thesis supervision), and administration (incl. management and leadership). During the first six years, the professorship will have a reduced teaching load and fewer administrative tasks. The professorship will participate to the same extent as all other professorships in the common pool of staff and department infrastructure. Berlin is Germany’s largest city with an inspiring metropolitan flair, a vibrant cultural scene, large green spaces, and a family-friendly environment.

HU Berlin aims to increase the proportion of women in teaching and research and strongly encourages qualified female academics to apply. We aim to internationalize our department and particularly encourage people from abroad with different cultural backgrounds to apply. People with an immigration history are specifically encouraged to apply. The severely disabled applicants with equivalent qualifications will be given preferential consideration. Applicants must meet the legal requirements for professorial appointments in conjunction with § 102c combined with § 102a of the ‘Berliner Hochschulgesetz’

Apply

Please submit your application electronically on the official website here where you will find application instructions and more.

Applications are accepted before/by 11 April 2025.

Humboldt-Universität, Berlin

The Faculty for Mathematics and Natural Sciences of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Geography Department, has an open position for a W1 Professorship in Geography of Global Environmental Change (with tenure track to W3) to be filled as soon as possible.

The Geography Department seeks to fill the position of a Juniorprofessorship (W1, 100 %) with a tenure track to a permanent professorship (W3 level, 100 %). An evaluation process will be opened after four years to verify whether the individual performance meets the requirements of permanent employment. Tenure track professors at HU Berlin are expected to conduct research and teaching, be active on various university committees, promote young scientists, and acquire leadership and management skills. Concrete requirements will be specified during the appointment process. The Juniorprofessorship (W1) is funded through the Commission for the Advancement of Women at HU Berlin.

We seek candidates with an outstanding research record on Global Environmental Change. Candidates should have a PhD in Geography, Geosciences, Earth System Science, Environmental Science, or a related field. We expect a strong grounding and expertise in quantitative research methods in physical geography and earth system science (e.g., system or process-based modeling, remote sensing and spatial modeling, field measurements, or experimental work) as well as an openness and ability for interdisciplinary work on human-environment interactions. We would be particularly excited to welcome a researcher with strong expertise in climate, vegetation, and/or soils, with clear links to the research foci of the institute (e.g., climate change, land use change, land degradation, biosphere change). We seek individuals with the vision, leadership, and enthusiasm to build an internationally recognized research program. We expect collaboration with other research groups at the department, at HU Berlin, and beyond, and a commitment to promoting a positive, diverse, and inclusive institutional culture.

We offer a tenure track position in an international, young, and vibrant department with an excellent scientific and education track record. The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary group of faculty focused on human-environment relations, global change, and sustainability. The salary will be according to W1 level and, after successful tenure evaluation, W3 level. Employment at HU Berlin offers all benefits of the German public service system, including health insurance, an attractive pension plan, and social benefits. Standard professorial duties include research (incl. advising PhD and postdoc researchers), teaching (incl. examinations and thesis supervision) and administration (incl. management and leadership). During the first six years, the professorship will have a reduced teaching load and a lower administrative load. The professorship will participate to the same extent as all other professorships in the common pool of staff and department infrastructure. Berlin is Germany’s largest city with an inspiring metropolitan flair, a vibrant cultural scene, large green spaces, and a family-friendly environment.

HU Berlin aims to increase the proportion of women in teaching and research and strongly encourages qualified female academics to apply. We aim to internationalize our department and particularly encourage people from abroad with different cultural backgrounds to apply. People with an immigration history are specifically encouraged to apply. The severely disabled applicants with equivalent qualifications will be given preferential consideration. Applicants must meet the legal requirements for professorial appointments in conjunction with § 102c combined with § 102a of the ‘Berliner Hochschulgesetz’.

Apply

Please submit your application electronically on the official website here where you will find application instructions and more. 

Applications are accepted before/by 11 April 2025.

The Institute of Environmental Sciences is opening a position for a PhD.

This is a 75% position that includes the completion of a doctoral thesis at the Faculty of Social Sciences (with a focus on “Environment and Sustainable Development” or “Urban and Regional Planning”), as well as teaching assistant duties within the ISE.

Doctoral research should focus on the sustainable development of mountain regions, on a local, regional or transnational scale, in the Global North, the Global South or with a comparative approach.

Themes that may lend themselves to doctoral research include:

• Actors and instruments of cross-border governance ;
• Regional development ;
• Sustainability policies ;
• Social, cultural and identity-related issues linked to the notion of sustainability in mountain regions ;
• Adaptation to climate change ;
• Risk management governance ;
• Landscape management and planning governance and policies ;
• Protection and management of natural and cultural heritage.

Necessary skills and requirements

• Master’s degree in social sciences, humanities or environmental sciences
• French : good command of written English (minimum B2)

Start date

1st August 2025 (or to be agreed)

Contact

The application, including a cover letter, a statement of intent of approximately 500 words describing how the candidate plans to develop the research project, a curriculum vitae, names and contact information ot two references, copies of Master’s degree, copy of Master’s thesis (text) and any other scientific publications deemed relevant for the position. All documents are to be submitted exclusively online at the official website.

For additional information, please contact via email: Prof. Bernard Debarbieux bernard.debarbieux@unige.ch

Additional information

The doctoral student is appointed for an initial period of 2 years; the appointment is renewable for two successive periods, respectively of 2 years and 1 year. The Position is funded by the Department of Public Instruction (DIP) and will include a teaching load of approximately 40%.

The first year serves as a probationary period during which the employment relationship can be terminated with a notice period of 3 months at the end of a month.

Application deadline is 31 March 2025.

Click the “Read more” button below to see the full job description and apply on the official website.

Nominations are now open for fellows to contribute to the second global assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Interested early-career individuals with academic and/or professional experience in relevant fields are invited to apply by 28 March 2025. 

Please note that only candidates nominated by a Government or organization will be considered. For application criteria and details on the nomination process, please view the call for nominations.

The IPBES Fellowship Programme

The IPBES fellowship programme provides an opportunity for outstanding early-career individuals from all backgrounds and disciplines working on biodiversity and ecosystem services to participate in IPBES assessments. The fellows gain first-hand experience in participating in major multidisciplinary scientific assessments while working with, and being mentored by, leading experts. The programme is an integral part of IPBES’ work on capacity-building, and aims to develop the capacities of fellows in undertaking assessments, thus creating a pool of experts suited for contributing to future assessments and promoting the work of IPBES in their home countries and institutions.

Nomination deadline is 28 March 2025. 

Background

Since 2001, the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) has served as a global research coordination network that connects researchers and promotes global change research in mountain regions worldwide. The MRI Coordination Office, hosted at the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) at the University of Bern, Switzerland, coordinates this network through knowledge creationenabling activities such as syntheses workshops, working groups, events, and platforms that bring researchers and stakeholders from diverse disciplines, practice, and backgrounds together. For more information, please visit www.mountainresearchinitiative.org. To fulfil our mission, we are seeking a dynamic, motivated, and experienced all-rounder to join the MRI Coordination Office team as our (SENIOR) PROJECT COORDINATOR, based in Bern, Switzerland. In this crucial role for our organisation, you will coordinate, plan, manage, and execute a diverse portfolio of tasks for various projects and activities that are carried out for the network.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Support the Executive Director in the planning, coordination, management, and implementation of tasks related to MRI activities, including support with official representation and related assignments, as required.
• Responsible for liaising and coordinating with the MRI Governing Body, MRI Working Group leads, other team members, network members, external project partners, and stakeholders to promote the visibility of mountains and mountain research within scientific organizations, networks, and science–policy fora and platforms.
• Responsible for planning, coordinating, and facilitating events such as workshops, webinars, seminars, research meetings, and conferences, including liaison with external experts and/or other resource personnel or contractors, as required.
• Provide technical inputs and/or contribute to the production of publications and/or other outputs resulting from MRI activities.
• Support in horizon-scanning, by exploring and contributing with your own ideas around prospects of strategic priority and importance for the MRI to further develop the network and contribute to our mission and objectives.
• Oversee the regular maintenance of the MRI Experts Database, and support with reporting tasks such as collecting data and information relating to outputs and outcomes of MRI activities, including analyses for monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Support and collaborate closely with the MRI Communications Manager with research and development of content for publications, newsletters, website, social media, and other outreach channels, as required.
• Participate and contribute to other MRI Coordination Office activities, including team meetings and exchanges with other MRI Coordination Office team members and CDE staff, administrative support, and co-supervision of assistants, as required.

Skills & Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in Earth sciences (e.g. geography), environmental studies, social sciences and humanities, or other related fields, with a demonstrable interest and/or experience in research management or facilitating and motivating inter- and transdisciplinary collaborations relating to mountain research.
• At least 3 years’ experience with project management, including planning, coordinating, and/or facilitating scientific events and multi-stakeholder meetings, with strong analytical and reporting skills, including computer skills.
• Experience and/or strong interest in engaging at the science–policy–practice interface; knowledge of relevant regional and/or global policy processes or research programmes that offer opportunities for mountain research is a plus.
• Ability to travel and manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously, able to anticipate needs while adopting an organized, efficient, and independent yet collaborative work style as part of a team.
• Excellent intercultural communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Spoken and written proficiency in English is required, with knowledge of German and/or French being highly desirable.

What we offer

The University of Bern offers very attractive and flexible working conditions, with the MRI offering great prospects to develop and enhance a professional profile, build networks, and apply scientific and practical skills to help build and support a vibrant global research community. The position is initially a 1.5-year fixed-term contract, starting no later than 1 July 2025 (preferably earlier), with possibility for renewal depending on funding availability. The position is based at the MRI Coordination Office and the salary is set in accordance with the University of Bern and the employment conditions of the Canton of Bern. The CDE and MRI value diversity and equal opportunity, and therefore welcome all applications from qualified individuals who meet the required criteria.

Application

To apply, please complete the online application form, and upload the following supporting documents as a single PDF, with your surname as file name: a) Cover letter; b) Curriculum Vitae (4-page max., including the names and contact details of two referees); and c) Letter of recommendation. Please, do not send your application via email. Applications are accepted until 23:59 CEST, 31 March 2025, or until a suitable candidate is found. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by email to arrange an in-person interview. For any questions regarding the position, please contact Carolina Adler at carolina.adler(at)unibe.ch.

Click here to download the job description as a pdf.