Junior Professorship “Regenerative Land Systems” (W1)

Leuphana University of Lüneburg; Lüneburg; Vor Ort; EUR 60.000 - 80.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Equal opportunities employer

International research collaboration

Zusammenfassung

Leuphana University of Lüneburg invites applications for a junior professorship (W1) in Regenerative Land Systems. The successful candidate will advance biophysical and ecological understanding of land and resource systems and pursue transformative, sustainability-oriented research with partners inside and outside academia.

The role emphasizes teaching across BSc/MSc programs in English, plus development of a research program with potential for third‑party funding.

Qualifikationen

• University degree in a discipline relevant to Regenerative Land Systems or related fields.
• Doctoral degree in a discipline relevant to the position.
• Experience teaching at BSc/MSc level and supervising theses.
• Experience in applying for external funding and developing funding strategy.
• Excellent command of English; willingness to learn German.

Aufgaben

• Teach biophysical–biochemical foundations of terrestrial ecosystems at the BSc/MSc level.
• Develop and supervise a research program aligned with regenerative land systems.
• Collaborate across disciplines and contribute to interdisciplinary teaching.
• Seek external funding and engage in third‑party funding activities.

Kenntnisse

English proficiency

Teaching experience

Independent research

Ausbildung

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Doctoral degree

Jobbeschreibung

HUMANISTIC. SUSTAINABLE. ENTREPRENEURIAL.

Leuphana University of Lüneburg stands for innovation in research and education. Methodological diversity, interdisciplinary collaboration, transdisciplinary cooperation with partners outside academia and a dynamic development characterize its research profile in the fields of education, culture, management & technology, sustainability as well as public affairs. Its award-winning study model is organized into the Leuphana College, the Leuphana Graduate School and the Leuphana Professional School.

Regenerative Land Systems (W1)

The School of Sustainability at Leuphana University of Lüneburg invites applications for a junior professorship (W1) in “Regenerative Land Systems”. We are seeking an outstanding early‑career researcher with a clear interest in terrestrial ecosystems, their use, functionality, and regeneration in the context of a sustainability transformation. The professorship extends existing sustainability approaches by positioning ongoing improvement—not merely the restoration—of system functions through positive feedback loops as a core objective. Suitable candidates may come from disciplines such as environmental sciences, geoecology, physical geography, or agricultural sciences, and possess a strong natural science background related to biophysical and biochemical fundamentals. Ideally, they have experience in inter‑or transdisciplinary research that integrates ecological, societal, and technological dimensions, and can situate their work within an international research context.

The position focuses on the functional relationships within land and resource systems, including the analysis of above‑and‑below‑ground material and energy flows, with the aim of developing and scientifically supporting regenerative approaches for sustainable land use. Candidates are expected to independently build a research profile closely linked to the Institute for Ecology and the Social‑Ecological Systems Institute, while also fostering interfaces with the concurrently advertised junior professorship in “Technology and Regenerative Sustainability”. The position is particularly suitable for early‑career researchers who wish to combine biophysical and ecological system understandings with transformation‑oriented research with partners inside and outside academia and ideally have first experience in this perspective.

You are expected to have initial research experience in relevant fields, as demonstrated by either a relevant doctoral degree and/or initial relevant publications, as well as a promising research programme in the fields of this junior professorship. Ideally you bring – as far as possible – initial experience in submitting research proposal applications (e.g. through independent acquisition of grants, collaboration on larger applications, experience with the handling of third‑party funded projects, first own successful third‑party funding acquisitions) that indicate a successful approach to acquisition of third‑party funding as well as supporting the development of a viable third‑party funding strategy during the junior professorship. International applications and applications from adjacent natural science or interdisciplinary backgrounds are explicitly encouraged to apply.

In teaching, the professorship contributes to biophysical‑biochemical foundations of terrestrial ecosystems, provides analytical training, and supports practical exercises. The teaching load is 4 course hours per week (LVS), with an emphasis on providing strategic input to study programmes rather than comprehensive course coverage. You can document first teaching experiences in the field of this junior professorship at the B. Sc. level and ideally also at the M.Sc. level and offer high‑quality, innovative teaching. Ideally you have supervised theses at B. Sc. and M.Sc. levels and you also have some experience in co‑supervising Ph.D. students.

As most of our courses at the B.Sc. and M.Sc. level are taught in English, we expect an excellent command of written and spoken English. If you do not speak German, you are willing to learn it within a reasonable period.

• 30 NHG, formal requirements are a university degree and a doctoral degree in a discipline relevant to the open position (e.g. environmental sciences, geoecology, physical geography, or agricultural sciences), your aptitude for teaching, and your ability to engage in independent academic research as demonstrated by the outstanding quality of your dissertation.

The junior professorship will be filled in accordance with pay grade W1 and is initially limited to a period of three years. The position will be extended for an additional three years, subject to a positive academic evaluation (in accordance with the guidelines for the mid‑term evaluation of junior professors of Leuphana University of Lüneburg).

At Leuphana, you will find an academic community that is open to changes in perspective and cultivates the dialogue among the different disciplines as well as between research and practice. With spirit and initiative, we address the challenges of civil society in the 21st century. Pursuing our idea of liberal education, we enable our students to think, reflect and act upon it. Our professors foster the awareness of gender and diversity aspects in teaching and research.

Leuphana University is an equal opportunities employer. The university aims to increase its number of female professors. Qualified women are especially invited to apply. Severely disabled applicants and applicants with equivalent status will be considered preferentially in accordance with the applicable legal provisions.

For further information, please contact the Dean of the School of Sustainability, Prof. Dr. Sylvia Haider ([e-mail]).