Tätigkeitsprofil:

The Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy e. V. (ATB) is a pioneer and driver of bioeconomy research. We create scientific foundations for the transformation of agricultural, food, industrial, and energy systems into a comprehensive bio-based circular economy. We develop and integrate techniques, processes, and management strategies, effectively converging technologies to crosslink bioeconomic production systems intelligently. By conducting research in dialogue with society, we aim to create knowledge-motivated and application-inspired solutions.

The Working Group on Innovations in Sociotechnical Systems (ISTS) envisions well-aligned social and technical systems that facilitate innovation and thereby support the transition toward a sustainable biobased economy. Its mission is to contribute to the generation and institutionalization of knowledge on the interplay of subsystems in support of an innovative, circular, inclusive, and cumulative biobased economy. To this end, holistic strategies, processes, as well as structures for collaboration, governance, and learning are co-designed and implemented jointly with stakeholders, employing innovative methods and tools to foster sustainable transformations toward a biobased economy. Within the framework of the Horizon Europe project NEXRUR, the following position is to be filled as part of the ISTS team:

Researcher in Sustainability Transitions and Innovation Management (m/f/d) (50-75 %)

Combined applications for multiple positions within the NEXRUR Project are possible up to a total extent of 100%.

Your responsibilities

• Perform action research in the context of the following project tasks:
  • Research, Co-Innovation, and Upscaling in Community-Led Business Networks.
  • Analyze key factors and mechanisms determining successful community-led business models.
  • Analyze, develop, and test strategic community-led business models and innovation agendas to support the growth of community-led business cases and enhance scalability and effectiveness.
  • Develop, test, and verify a performance monitoring system based on social, environmental, and economic KPIs to assess and translate social and environmental performance into measurable economic outcomes.
• Manage and execute internal and external events.
• Contribute to research projects and activities within the ISTS group and ATB, including the preparation of project deliverables and reports.
• Publish scientific findings and contribute to research proposals for external funding; present results at national and international conferences.
• Mentor and guide junior researchers, including Bachelor’s and Master’s students, and undertake a limited teaching responsibility.

Your qualification profile

• General qualifications:
  • An academic degree, preferably a PhD, in innovation studies and management, sustainability transitions, management studies, economics, entrepreneurship, science and technology studies, social sciences or equivalent.
  • Strong research orientation with the ability to design and implement empirical, conceptual, and strategic research agendas, including mixed methods, participatory and action-oriented approaches.
  • Demonstrated ability to work both independently and within transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams.
  • Excellent English communication skills as proven by publications, with additional language skills in German or Chinese considered an advantage.
  • Experience with teaching and coaching students is an advantage.
  • Enthusiasm, self-reliance, strong organizational skills.
• Specific qualifications:
  • Expertise in analyzing innovation processes and sustainability transitions.
  • Ability to assess innovation impacts through structured methodologies, including the definition, collection, and interpretation of social, environmental, and economic Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
  • Proven ability to design and implement strategic innovation research agendas and roadmaps that support long-term development trajectories.

Anforderungsprofil:

We offer you

• An interdisciplinary and collaborative working environment at the forefront of research on sustainability transitions and community development.
• The opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in business development and entrepreneurship in rural areas with high societal relevance.
• Mentorship and support in publishing and developing research proposals.
• Family-friendly working conditions and a supportive team atmosphere.
• Participation in the VBB company ticket or Deutschlandticket.
• Access to excellent research infrastructure and a picturesque location in Potsdam.

The part-time position (50-75 %) is limited to four years and will be compensated according to salary group TV-L 13. This position is complementary to the position for a research associate advertised as part of the NEXRUR project at Humboldt Universität zu Berlin. The position is expected to begin in October 2025, contingent upon the final approval of the project by the funding agency.

For further information, please contact PD Dr. Philipp Grundmann (email: pgrundmann@atb-potsdam.de) and visit our website at www.atb-potsdam.de.

If you would like to contribute your professional competence to our interdisciplinary research, please apply by the following deadline16.06.2025using ATB’s online application form for the job advertisement,reference 2025-TA-STIM-7,

athttps://www.atb-potsdam.de/de/karriere/offene-stellen. Applications received after the application deadline cannot be considered.

The interviews are scheduled for mid of June 01/02/03.07.2025.

Equality of opportunity is part of our personnel policy. Disabled applicants with adequate qualification will be preferentially considered.

By submitting an application, you agree that your job application documents will be stored for a period of six months, even in the case of an unsuccessful application. Further information on the processing, storage and protection of your personal data can be found athttps://www.atb-potsdam.de/en/services/data-protection-declaration-for-the-application-process.

Published on May 07, 2025

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