PhD candidate (f_m_x) – Social Sciences

Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres; Deutschland; Vor Ort; EUR 40.000 - 60.000; Teilzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading research institute in Germany is seeking a motivated PhD candidate to investigate the societal implications of Enhanced Silicate Weathering (ESW) for carbon dioxide removal. Responsibilities include stakeholder analysis, mapping systemic interdependencies, and contributing to communication activities. A master’s degree in social sciences or related fields is required, along with strong English skills. This position offers flexible working in a dynamic research environment with public service benefits.

Leistungen

Flexible working hours

Extensive training opportunities

Public service benefits

Professional career advice

Qualifikationen

• Completed master's degree in relevant fields.
• Knowledge in stakeholder analysis and governance.
• Experience in stakeholder participation.

Aufgaben

• Identifying and analyzing stakeholder groups' needs.
• Mapping systemic interdependencies using causal loop diagrams.
• Organizing stakeholder workshops and conducting interviews.

Kenntnisse

Stakeholder analysis

Policies analysis

Risk research

Systems analysis methods

Fluency in English

German language skills

Ausbildung

Master’s degree in social sciences, political science, or sociology

Jobbeschreibung

Area of research:

Other

Job description:

The Research Institute for Sustainability at GFZ (RIFS) conducts research with the aim of investigating, identifying, and advancing development pathways for transformation processes towards sustainability in Germany and abroad. The institute was founded in 2009 as the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) and has been affiliated with the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences under its new name since the 1st of January 2023 and is thus part of the Helmholtz Association.

Position:

Reference Number 10871

We are recruiting a PhD candidate to examine the societal implications of Enhanced Silicate Weathering (ESW) as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategy. The position is embedded in the RESET project ("Developing Roadmaps to Scalable Carbon Dioxide Removal by Enhanced Silicate Weathering"), which is part of the BMFTR-funded consortium CDRTerra. RESET brings together three closely linked PhD positions to explore ESW from natural science and social science perspectives.

Enhanced Silicate Weathering (ESW) involves applying finely ground reactive (ultra)mafic minerals to agricultural soils to permanently remove atmospheric CO₂. ESW is considered a promising large‑scale CDR option due to its long‑term storage potential and comparatively low cost. RESET investigates both the opportunities and challenges of deploying ESW at scale and aims to co‑develop potential implementation pathways together with stakeholders.

We are looking for a motivated PhD student to research the societal implications of ESW. The successful candidate will map systemic interdependencies in terms of potential trade‑offs and synergies in the implementation of ESW, as well as implement stakeholder participation processes and co‑creation processes for scaling strategies of ESW.

Your responsibilities:

• Identifying relevant stakeholder groups at local, regional, and national levels
• Identifying and analysing stakeholder groups' needs in implementing ESW and their socio‑economic and institutional scope for action
• Mapping systemic interdependencies using causal loop diagrams (e.g., impacts on agriculture, biodiversity, and land/resource use)
• Identifying trade‑offs (e.g., competing uses of basalt flour) and synergies (e.g., crop yield increases, reduced waste streams), including assessment of related uncertainties
• Organising stakeholder workshops and conducting interviews
• Contributing to communication and dissemination activities related to the project
• Participating in and helping to organise scientific conferences
• Producing scientific outputs, e.g., project reports, policy briefs, journal publications, and conference presentations

Your qualifications:

• Completed academic university education, master’s degree from an academic university or an accredited master’s degree from a university of applied sciences in the fields of social sciences, political science, or sociology
• Knowledge in the areas of stakeholder analysis, institutional and governance analysis, policy analysis, risk research, and systems analysis methods
• Experience in stakeholder participation
• Experience in writing academic publications, research reports, and policy briefs
• A high degree of initiative, creativity, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Fluency in written and spoken English; German language skills are an advantage, but not required

What we offer:

• Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
• State‑of‑the‑art equipment
• Public service benefits
• Extensive training opportunities
• Professional career advice offered by our in‑house Career‑Centre
• Flexible working hours and conditions
• Support with finding a good work‑life balance offered by benefit@work
• Institute day‑care centre on site

Additional details:

Start date: As soon as possible

Fixed‑term: 3 years

Salary: The position is classed as salary group 13 according to "TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)". The salary group is determined on the basis of the Collective Wage Agreement and the respective personal qualifications.

Working hours: Part‑time 75% (currently 29.25 h/week)

Place of work: Potsdam

Have we piqued your interest?

If so, we look forward to receiving your application by 3rd December 2025.

Required documents: CV, letter of motivation, certificates/grades

Desirable documents: references

Please use our online application form only.

Diversity and equal opportunities are integral components of our human resources policy. The RIFS actively promotes diversity and explicitly welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age and physical characteristics. Anyone who has been recognised as severely disabled will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification in accordance with the provisions of the German Social Code IX. For any further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer.

‘Diversity in perspectives’ is a high value for us. As an integral part of supporting diversity at our centre, we actively promote women in science and in leadership positions. We, among others, do this through our gender equality plan and the cascade model measures, which we actively implement to enable sustainable equal opportunities in academic career paths. We are thus committedly strives for gender equality in science, including in leadership positions, and strongly encourages women to apply.

Your personal data will be processed for the purpose of conducting the selection procedure on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 b, Art. 88 GDPR in conjunction with Art. 26 of the Data Protection Act for the State of Brandenburg. After the procedure is completed, the application documents will be deleted in compliance with data protection regulations.

In case of any further queries relating to the field of activity, please contact Dr. Pia‑Johanna Schweizer via email. If you have any general questions about the application process, please contact our recruiting team at our phone number [phone].

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over €5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.