The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) is a nationally and internationally active research institute and member of the Leibniz Association. ZALF aims for excellent and integrated research with societal impact to support an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society. Launching in 2026, ZALF's Innovation Centre for Agricultural System Transformation (IAT) will operate as a permanent structural unit with 19 new working groups in Müncheberg, Kassel, Giessen and Geisenheim. The IAT will pioneer research in agricultural living lab contexts, working closely with diverse societal actors to co-develop, test and evaluate land use systems, value networks, and innovative solutions for sustainable transformation. Joining the IAT offers a unique opportunity to actively shape its development and contribute to cutting-edge, impact-driven research. The advertised position is part of a cluster focused on the “Co-design of Value Networks” offering collaboration across different disciplines and research groups. More information: Innovation Centre for Agricultural System Transformation.

With its Tenure Track System, ZALF aims to recruit excellent scientists with expertise aligned with the IAT by guaranteeing a permanent contract upon successful evaluation.

We are offering at our IAT campus in Müncheberg a full-time position as

Tenure Track scientist as working group head (m/f/d) on “Co-development of value networks for new agricultural products” [Reference No. IAT-T05-2025]

Call description

This Classic Tenure Track Call invites applications with a focus on transdisciplinary research for co-developing value networks for new agricultural products such as those originating from paludiculture, agroforestry, new crops or livestock systems. 

Diversification of agricultural farming systems as part of climate-adapted and resource-efficient agriculture, natural climate protection measures, or changes in consumer preferences, e.g., toward a meat-free diet, are leading to the introduction of new agricultural products. Establishing value networks that add economic value to these new agricultural products is crucial for their success and up-scaling on the market. Non-demand-driven products come with particular challenges in developing their demand across the entire value network. This requires actors who are mission-driven in their work to establish respective new value networks. 

The new working group will conduct research in collaboration with diverse stakeholders that support the establishment of new value networks by conducting transdisciplinary research, primarily in the IAT living labs in Germany, but also in other world regions. Research will be carried out in close cooperation with other IAT working groups at Justus Liebig University Giessen University and University of Kassel on the “Co-development of resilient agricultural value networks” and “Sustainable entrepreneurship” in the agri-food-environment nexus. The working group will be supported by living lab organizational structures of the IAT.

The successful candidate will:

• Analyze actors’ interests, roles and constellations of new value networks
• Analyze the implementation processes of new value networks including barriers, success factors, and supporting (policy) framework conditions
• Perform risk assessments related to uncertainty of new agricultural products and production systems, and future demand
• Develop approaches for the upscaling and outscaling of co-developed solutions to other regions
• Collaborate with stakeholders in living labs, involved in the introduction of new agricultural products in the regional context of living labs, to co-develop new value networks
• Actively cooperate with the other working groups operating in the five IAT living labs as well as with the socio-economic research groups at the cooperating universities in Hesse and at ZALF
• Establish and lead this new working group
• Acquire third-party funding and supervise early career researchers.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in agricultural sciences, or similar, with a focus on business models and value networks. They will have significant experience in transdisciplinary research in a European agri-food context. Basic German language skills and a willingness to improve is required to allow interaction with actors in the living lab regions.

Preliminary experience in scientific leadership is expected. The selected candidate is required to have demonstrated their capacity to independently carry out research, including an excellent publication record, successfully acquired competitive third-party funding and visibility in their respective field of research.

We offer

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to the design and establishment of the new IAT and become part of a new interdisciplinary research team in an inspiring and challenging research environment. The successful candidate will receive a Regular Tenure Track position (2 x 3 years) with transition to a permanent position, subject to successful evaluations (midterm and final tenure evaluation). If candidates are not legally eligible for two consecutive fixed-term contracts (according to the German academic employment law – WissZeitVG), a Fast Tenure Track (1 phase) may be negotiated if the required scientific achievements are fulfilled. 

Further:

• Full-time contract, with part-time option to allow for the reconciliation of family and career
• Salary will follow the guidelines for public employees according to the German TV-L, E14.
• Individual options for career support include, amongst others, such as a mentoring tandem, courses & trainings
• A transdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• Service groups and support for stakeholder management and living lab coordination, as well as for data management and computation
• Access to a network of national and international scientific partners in the field of research
• A collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• Relocation within commuting distance of the IAT campus in Müncheberg is welcome; remote working is permitted up to 40% per month
• Company ticket for public transport

Application and candidate selection

ZALF is an equal opportunities employer (audit berufundfamilie® certificate) and specifically encourages female scientists to apply. Applications of disabled applicants with equal qualifications will be favored.

Application documents must follow the specifications given in the respective guideline available at the ZALF website (www.zalf.de/en/karriere/tenure-track) and include two standardized letters of recommendation of scientists who are familiar with the candidate’s research accomplishments and academic credentials (template available at Reference_Letter). This call has reference to the special conditions of IAT Tenure Track positions.

Candidate selection is based on scientific achievements, strategic aspects, and personal suitability. Details on criteria, minimum requirements and evaluation processes can be obtained from the ZALF Tenure Track System guideline, which is an official annex to this call: Tenure_Track_Guideline. Please send your application preferably online (see link below). For e-mail application, create a single PDF file and send it to tenuretrack@zalf.de stating the reference number IAT-T05-2025.

https://jobs.zalf.de/jobposting/fd8937de9d8fefe4e9837beaba012ef6af93d33e0

The deadline for applications is 14 August2025.

If you have any questions regarding the research profile of this position, please contact Prof. Dr. Bettina Matzdorf (Phone +49(0)33432/82-150; matzdorf@zalf.de). For questions regarding the Tenure Track System, please contact Dr. Andrea Kern (Phone +49(0)33432/82-689; andrea.kern@zalf.de). 

The filling of the position is subject to the final decision on the provision of institutional funding. If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR only for the processing of your application and for purposes that result from possible future employment with ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months. You can find further information here.