Skip to main content

PhD position (m/f/d) in the Multifunctional Role of Plants

2026-07-08

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 and an overall dynamic development characterize its research profile in the core topics of education, culture, management/technology, sustainability and state. Its international study model with the Leuphana College, the Leuphana Graduate School and the Leuphana Professional School is unique in Germany and has won many awards.

 

The University is looking for a responsible, motivated and committed person for the Institute of Ecology in the School of Sustainability -pending funding - as of 1st October 2026 (1st November 2026 at the latest).

PhD position (m/f/d) in the Multifunctional Role of Plants 

(salary group EG 13 TV-L, 70 %, for a limited period of 3 years (30.09.2029))

in the research project “Building climate resilience in agricultural landscapes through social-ecological diversification, co-design and transdisciplinary learning (AgRe-Lab)”.

AgRe-Lab will be funded by zukunft.niedersachsen, the joint science funding programme of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the Volkswagen Foundation. The transdisciplinary AgRe-Lab project is focusing on the adoption of climate and biodiversity measures, together with co-design processes, landscape governance, and transdisciplinary learning and how these measures shape the social-ecological resilience of agricultural landscapes to adapt and remain productive under climate change. 

The position involves conducting research in collaboration with AgRe-Lab partners. 

We are seeking a highly motivated person keen to join a dynamic research team that aims to provide scientific evidence for how scale influences biodiversity and climate measures in agricultural landscapes. To do this we will combine state-of-the-art science methods within a transdisciplinary living lab setting. In our subproject Multifunctional Role of Plants we aim to better understand where synergies are possible within biodiversity and climate measures in agricultural landscapes, and where tradeoffs cannot be avoided in terms of effects on plant diversity and yield. A key question will be the extent to which increasing the functional diversity of plants (in grassland and in cropland) can deliver multiple ecosystem functions and services without substantial yield loss. We are particularly interested in options for extensifying intensively managed grasslands by moving from 1-2 to 3-6 grassland species, including N2-fixing legumes, and thereby providing new opportunities for increasing biodiversity, pollination and soil C storage. This is a promising way forward to reach multifunctional grasslands that can contribute to climate mitigation as well as biodiversity. To sequester more soil C we need a certain amount of nitrogen as well as organic matter input, such that a sustainable way to do this is to include legume species rather than using mineral fertilizer, but legume species tend to decline over time in such grasslands. A key research aim is therefore to better understand the persistence of legume species in the grasslands.

Your tasks:

  • You will assess plant diversity and productivity in study plots in grasslands and croplands, including already instigated biodiversity and climate measures across the three Living Labs (post-hoc assessment). 

  • In co-creation: You will test different legume-grass-forb mixtures within demonstration sites in the three living labs (Northeim, Hildesheimer Börde, Gifhorn) in co-creation with local farmers and NGOs, as well as working closely with other sub-projects working on rooting depth, soil carbon and pollinator diversity or landscape composition. 

  • You will work closely with PhD students from other subprojects, including those working on roots and soil carbon or pollination, economic and political components of measures. 

  • Statistical evaluations and data analysis. 

  • Writing scientific publications and project reports

  • Supervising bachelor’s and master’s theses

Your profile:

  • You like plants and have experience in working with plants, either in an agricultural or an ecological setting, and have a reasonable-to good knowledge of grassland species in mesic and productive grassland (or a strong willingness to learn about their characteristics).

  • You preferably have some experience in working in field experiments with plant species. 

  • You enjoy working with a range of different people, including other scientists, farmers, NGOs, within a living lab setting.

  • You like the outdoors and working with plants and people in a range of different landscapes and habitats. 

  • You must hold a completed university degree (Master’s degree) in subjects such as agroecology, ecology, biology, grassland science, environmental science or geography or another discipline related to the social-ecological research of agricultural systems. 

  • Fluency in written and spoken English is required, and a good working knowledge of German (B2 level).

  • Experience with spatial analyses using QGIS or R is considered an asset. 

  • You have an interest in supervising Master’s and Bachelor’s theses, as well as in scientific outreach and communication and making a practical impact in the real world with your research. 

  • A valid Class B driving license valid in the EU is required. 

  • A strong willingness to travel for fieldwork and spend time at the Living Labs is essential. 

Our offer:

  • an inspiring working environment as part of the university community of researchers, teachers, students and staff in technology and administration,
  • a workplace at one of the most beautiful university locations in Germany in a true campus university with an internationally acclaimed central building by Daniel Libeskind and the directly adjacent Wilschenbruch nature reserve,
  • a high level of job security as part of the public service,
  • an additional company pension scheme through the Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder (VBL),
  • flexible and family-friendly working hours within a flexitime framework from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
  • flexible and family-friendly opportunities to alternate between presence work and mobile work,
  • an extensive internal and external continuing education programme,
  • a wide range of sporting activities sponsored by the university, which employees can take part in for one hour per week during working hours to promote their health,
  • a university-sponsored catering service for lunch and dinner in the refectory,
  • a Germany ticket sponsored by the university as a job ticket

Your application:

For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Vicky Temperton (vicky.temperton@leuphana.de, Tel. 04131.677-2960).

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 submit all required documents (without photo) via our application portal by 23.08.2026. We look forward to receiving your application!