Research Associate (f_m_x) - Political and Social Sciences, Spatial and Planning Sciences - LIN[...]

GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung; Deutschland; Vor Ort; EUR 40.000 - 50.000; Teilzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading research institute in Germany is recruiting a motivated researcher to contribute to Urban Digital Twins projects. The role involves conducting research, identifying stakeholders, and developing co-creative recommendations within a dynamic team. A Master's degree in social sciences and expertise in engagement research are essential. The position offers part-time work with diverse tasks in an international research environment.

Leistungen

Public service benefits

Extensive training opportunities

Flexible working hours

Career advice from in-house Career-Centre

Qualifikationen

• Expertise in participation and engagement research within climate adaptation.
• Experience with participatory approaches to urban development or digital planning tools.
• Practical design and moderation experience for co-design or participation formats.

Aufgaben

• Conduct systematic reviews on Urban Digital Twins for climate adaptation.
• Identify key stakeholders in project regions.
• Plan and conduct interviews and surveys.
• Develop and maintain a digital knowledge and exchange platform.
• Author policy briefs and academic publications.
• Represent the project at conferences.

Kenntnisse

Participation and engagement research

Qualitative methods

Intercultural sensitivity

Team-oriented work style

Ausbildung

Masters in political or social sciences

PhD in relevant field

Jobbeschreibung

Offer Description

Area of research: Scientific / postdoctoral posts

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 1 January 2023 and is thus part of the Helmholtz Association.

For our research group on Regional Sustainability Transformations, we are looking for a:

Reference Number 10876

The successful candidate will contribute to the joint research project LINK Urban Digital Twinning (LINKUDT), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) under the programme Planning Acceleration for Climate Adaptation through Urban Digital Twins (UDT). The project develops and tests Urban Digital Twins as tools for climate adaptation and sustainable urban development, with a particular focus on digital sovereignty, interoperable data infrastructures, and participatory and transdisciplinary approaches. Project partners include, among others, TU Dresden, 52°North, and the nexus Institute.

The RIFS sub‑project assumes a central role in accompanying research: it reviews the international state of research, identifies key stakeholders, accompanies living labs through dialogue, organises exchange and networking formats (workshops, discussion fora, working meetings), and prepares outputs for knowledge transfer – including policy recommendations, policy papers, and a publicly accessible results repository.

We are seeking a motivated researcher with expertise in participation and engagement research, particularly in the context of climate adaptation and digital planning tools. The successful candidate will work closely with project partners, support the co‑creative development of recommendations and publications, and contribute to the design and implementation of exchange, training, and dissemination activities. In addition to a social science perspective, the project integrates governance, transformation, and data infrastructure approaches; openness to fundamental questions of geoinformation and Urban Digital Twins is desirable.

Your responsibilities:

• Systematic review and synthesis of the international research landscape on Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) in the context of climate adaptation – focusing on governance, data sovereignty, data infrastructures, and networking strategies
• Identification of key stakeholders (administration, politics, civil society, science, business) in the project regions and analysis of their roles, needs, and interfaces for future collaboration
• Accompanying research in living labs: planning and conducting interviews, surveys, and, where appropriate, participant observation; deriving success factors and challenges for UDT diffusion
• Contribution to exchange and networking formats: conceptual and methodological support for on‑site workshops, discussion fora, and working meetings, including moderation, documentation, and follow‑up
• Support in developing and maintaining a digital knowledge and exchange platform, and contributing to training materials for municipal and regional stakeholders
• Independent conception, execution, and analysis of scientific studies; (co‑)authoring concept papers and policy briefs with concrete recommendations for action
• Science communication: writing articles and giving presentations; contributing to newsletters, the project website, and other transfer products; representing the consortium at conferences and public events
• Cross‑project collaboration: participating in coordination and dissemination tasks across work packages, steering committee meetings, and reporting activities
• Excellent university degree (MA/MSc) in political or social sciences, sociology, or related disciplines, especially communication, spatial or planning sciences, geography, or socio‑informatics; a PhD is an advantage
• Sound knowledge of participation and engagement research; ideally experience with participatory approaches to climate adaptation/urban development or digital planning tools
• Practical experience in designing and moderating co‑design or participation formats and in stakeholder collaboration; strong command of qualitative methods (e.g. interviews, focus groups, document analysis)
• Proven experience in producing academic publications and transfer outputs (policy briefs, guidelines, recommendations, contributions for practitioners and the public)
• Fluent German and excellent English (spoken and written)
• High level of initiative, creativity, and organisational skills; team‑oriented, yet independent and structured working style
• Strong intercultural sensitivity and diversity competence; ability to communicate effectively with administration, civil society, academia, and business
• Strong interest in transdisciplinary collaboration and enthusiasm for working across scales – between local and trans‑national perspectives, and between individual and societal levels
• Desirable: competence in empowerment and civic participation, basic understanding of municipal data and governance structures (e.g. open data, data ethics/sovereignty), and experience with collaborative working and visualisation tools

What we offer:

• Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
• 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

Start date: As soon as possible

Fixed‑term: 31st October 2029

Salary: The position is classed as salary group 13 according to “TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost)”.

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

Place of work: Potsdam

Diversity and equal opportunities are integral components of our human resources policy.

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 recognized 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. In case of further queries regarding gender equality, please do not hesitate to contact our Equal Opportunities Officer.

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