Post-doctoral Research Associate (m/f/d) Environmental and sustainability governance / Democratic Innovations

2025-12-08

Leuphana University Lüneburg is a humanistic, sustainable, and action-oriented university that stands for innovation in education and science. Methodological diversity, interdisciplinary collaboration, transdisciplinary cooperation with practitioners, and overall dynamic development characterize its research profile in the core areas of education, culture, management/technology, sustainability, and government. Its international study model with Leuphana College, Leuphana Graduate School, and Leuphana Professional School is unique in Germany and has received numerous awards.

For the Faculty of Sustainability (Governance and Sustainability Working Group), the university is seeking a responsible, motivated, and committed individual to fill the following position as soon as possible

Post-doctoral Research Associate (m/f/d)

(EG 13 TV-L, 100%, fixed-term for a period of 3 years)

Environmental and sustainability governance / Democratic Innovations

Professor Jens Newig’s research group on governance and sustainability (https://sustainability-governance.net/about/) is looking to employ a postdoc to support existing activities and to explore new research directions.

The working group is based in the Faculty of Sustainability at Leuphana University and in the interfaculty Center for Democracy Research. It conducts high-level research projects, funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and the German Research Foundation (DFG), among others, and offers a dynamic, social science-oriented research environment with excellent contacts to international research groups.

Your tasks:

Research in the field of environmental and sustainability governance with a focus on democratic innovations that contribute to the international visibility of the research group. Innovative topics and approaches are expressly welcome. Possible research topics and methods include:

Participatory and collaborative governance from the local to the global level, including in the Global South
The role of democratic innovations—participatory forms of civic engagement such as citizens' assemblies—for democracy, legitimacy, and effective and equitable environmental and sustainability governance
State-of-the-art methods for evidence synthesis: meta-analytical methods and the potential of big data in governance research
The use of artificial intelligence for the analysis and synthesis of research results
Field experiments on governance interventions

Other tasks include:

Developing and collaborating in writing articles for international journals;
Teaching activities on governance-related and inter- and transdisciplinary topics in environmental, sustainability and/or political science study programmes, with a teaching duty of four teaching hours per week during the semester;
Assisting with day-to-day aspects of facilitating smooth collaboration within the research group;
There will be the opportunity to prepare a cumulative ‘habilitation thesis’ (or equivalent qualification) on a topic agreed with Prof. Dr. Newig.

Selection criteria:

Completed university degree (masters or equivalent) with above-average grades in the social sciences, e.g., political science, public administration, law, spatial planning, human geography, environmental or sustainability sciences, as well as a completed doctorate (i.e., dissertation submitted) in one of these fields;
Proven expertise in one or more of the above-mentioned research topics;
Potential to perform excellently in the areas of responsibility mentioned;
Very good written and spoken English skills;
Experience with scientific publishing;
Experience in empirical research and knowledge of statistics, QCA, or other formal comparison methods;
Ability and willingness to take on relevant teaching courses; initial teaching experience is an advantage.

What we offer:

An inspiring work environment as part of a university community of researchers, teachers, students, and technical and administrative staff;
A workplace at one of Germany's most beautiful university locations in a genuine campus university with an internationally renowned central building designed by Daniel Libeskind and the Wilschenbruch nature reserve directly adjacent to the campus;
a high level of job security as part of the public service,
an additional company pension scheme through the Federal and State Pension Institution (VBL),
flexible and family-friendly working hours within a flexitime framework from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
flexible and family-friendly options for switching between on-site and mobile work,
a comprehensive range of internal and external training opportunities,
a diverse range of sports activities sponsored by the university, which can be used for one hour per week during working hours to promote employee health,
a university-sponsored lunch offer in the cafeteria,
a university-sponsored Germany ticket as a job ticket.

The position is generally suitable for part-time work, but the aim is to fill it on a full-time basis.

Your application:

If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Jens Newig (jens.newig@leuphana.de).

Leuphana University Lüneburg promotes professional gender equality and diversity among its members. Applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if they have the same qualifications.

Please address each of the selection criteria in a separate section in a continuous text of 100–200 words each. Please also include a CV (including a list of publications), a 1–2-page exposé of your planned research activities, copies of relevant certificates and transcripts (including high school diploma), up to three writing samples, and the names of up to three academic references (in English).

Please submit all of the above documents (without a photo) via our application portal using the following link by January 10, 2026. We look forward to receiving your application!