Key Subject Area “Companies as drivers of sustainability transformations”: Postdoctoral Research Associate w. a background in Management Studies, Sustainability Studies, Business Ethics, Organization Studies, Communication Studies, Sociology or Psychology

2025-05-28

As a humanistic, sustainable and action-oriented university, Leuphana University of Lüneburg stands for innovation in education and science. Methodological diversity, interdisciplinary cooperation, transdisciplinary cooperation with practice-based partners and an overall dynamic development characterize its research profile in the fields of culture, education, management & technology, public affairs, and sustainability. With the university-wide research development program “Embracing Transformation through research, education and knowledge transfer” (in short “Embracing Transformation”) Leuphana aims to establish itself as a leading university for the analysis and critical reflection of transformation processes. More than one hundred researchers at various career levels will collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment to generate transformation knowledge that empowers individuals and communities to manage societal challenges and develop solutions for the common good.

Visit our website to learn more about the five Key Subject Areas that are involved in the project: “Climate Futures in Digital Cultures”, “Companies das Drivers of Sustainability Transformations”, “Democratic Resilience”, “Organizing in Times of Crisis”, and “Toward a Regenerative Society”, complemented by a “Psychology of Transformation” acting as a Hub Science. To create synergies between these various fields and explore new perspectives, the “Leuphana Transformation Lab“ will be established as a shared intellectual and physical space to promote collaboration among the researchers involved.

The university is looking for a responsible, motivated and committed person for the Key Subject Area “Companies as drivers of sustainability transformations” to fill the position of a

Postdoctoral Research Associate with a background in Management Studies, Sustainability Studies, Business Ethics, Organization Studies, Communication Studies, Sociology or Psychology

(salary group EG 13 TV-L, as a full-time employee for a limited period until 31 August 2030 to start on 1 October 2025 or depending on your availability)

We invite you to become part of an exciting community of highly motivated scholars and offer you the opportunity to advance your academic career as a postdoctoral researcher. You will be able to refine your own profile and build an international network by working with numerous professors, other postdocs, doctoral students and international fellows in a stimulating interdisciplinary setting. You will significantly further your field of study and its integration into the research agenda of “Embracing Transformation”, thus positioning yourself as an expert in the highly dynamic and future-oriented field of transformation research as well as management and organization studies. To fully benefit from the purpose and value of collaborative and interdisciplinary research facilitated by a shared physical space, an adequate presence on campus is expected.

The Key Subject Area “Companies as drivers of sustainability transformations” focuses on positive contributions of organizations and entrepreneurship in driving sustainability transformations of markets and society. Adopting a dual perspective, the area examines sustainability transformations by analyzing key management levers for effectively enabling these transformations and by focusing on key transformation areas where change is essential to achieve sustainable development. These transformation areas include the organization itself, market offerings and consumption dynamics, and the broader societal and natural business environment. A central goal of the Key Subject Area is to translate scientific findings into effective, evidence-based interventions to promote sustainability transformations.

We are seeking to appoint a candidate who researches the sustainability transformation of businesses and their immediate environments. They should demonstrate the ability and ambition to conduct high quality research, proven, for example, by initial publications in highly ranked international scientific journals in management studies, sustainability studies, or business ethics. The candidate must display the ability to conduct qualitative research methods and should have an interest in mixed or quantitative methods. The postdoctoral researcher will become team member of the Professorship for Business Administration, particularly Business in Society (Prof. Dr. Hannah Trittin-Ulbrich) and will contribute to the professorship through research, teaching, and writing funding applications.

Your tasks:

Conduct research related to the Key Subject Area “Companies as drivers of sustainability transformations” at an internationally competitive level in the field of Management Studies, Sustainability Studies, or Business Ethics; ideally, your research addresses the “politics of sustainability”
Contribute to the common objective of “Embracing Transformation” by analyzing transformation processes and generating transformation knowledge
Contribute to the development of the Key Subject Area “Companies as drivers of sustainability transformations” and to drafting major follow-up funding applications
Advance your own academic career by preparing for a junior professorship or seeking funding for a junior research group, for example
Participate in and co-organize regular meetings and workshops
Co-supervise doctoral students
Contribute to teaching on Companies as drivers of sustainability transformations (2 German SWS = 1.5 regular teaching hours per week during the term)

Your qualifications:

Doctorate in one of the following fields: Management Studies, Sustainability Studies, Business Ethics, Organization Studies, Communication Studies, Sociology
Strong publication record relative to opportunity
Experience in Qualitative Research Methods, and Interest in Quantitative or Mixed-Methods
Ideally, experience in interdisciplinary contexts
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English (having an at least basic command of German is an advantage)
Strong personal initiative, excellent organizational skills, and ability to work in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams

Our offer:

An inspiring cutting-edge collaborative research environment with multiple established and early-career scholars and scientists working together in an attractive modern university building designed by Daniel Libeskind
Green and inviting campus at the edge of the picturesque Hanseatic town of Lüneburg, close to the Northern German metropolis Hamburg
Flexible and family-friendly working hours within a time frame between 6 am and 9 pm, including opportunities for remote working
A wide range of additional (subsidized) benefits such as continuing education, sporting activities, catering service for lunch and dinner, and a public transport ticket valid in the whole of Germany
An additional company pension scheme through the Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder (VBL)

Your application:

For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Hannah Trittin-Ulbrich (hannah.trittin-ulbrich@leuphana.de).

Leuphana University of Lüneburg promotes professional gender equality and heterogeneity among its members. Applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if they have the same qualifications. Please also note our data protection information for applicants.

Please be available on the 17^th and 18^th of July 2025 for job interviews on campus.

We look forward to receiving your application, including a research proposal and outline of your research interests on up to four pages. In addition, please include a CV (without photo) and a motivation letter in which you briefly describe (1) your qualifications, (2) how your envisaged research project may contribute to the interdisciplinary concept and overall goals of “Embracing Transformation”, and (3) how working in this setting will be beneficial for your own academic career. Please send it by the 29^th of June 2025 digitally (summarized in a PDF file) or by post to:

Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

Human Resources and Legal Affairs / Application Management

Subject: Companies as drivers PostDoc

Universitätsallee 1

21335 Lüneburg

jobs@leuphana.de