Research assistant/PhD student in ‘Food security and livelihoods in restoration landscapes in western Rwanda’

At the University of Göttingen -Public Law Foundation-, Department für Agrarökonomie und Rurale Entwicklung, there is a position as

to be filled. Starting date is 10/1/2023. The position is limited to 4 years (09/30/2027).

The project
The advertised position is part of the new DFG Research Unit ‘A social-ecological systems approach to inform ecosystem restoration in rural Africa’. Ecosystem restoration has become a global priority. Yet, despite a surge in international attention, the ecological, social, and interlinked social-ecological consequences of restoration activities remain poorly understood. The DFG research unit FOR 5501 will approach ecosystem restoration from a social-ecological systems perspective to better understand the mechanisms involved in generating different restoration outcomes. We will integrate diverse disciplines to provide a comprehensive understanding of the past, present and future of ecosystem restoration in our study area in western Rwanda while also generating valuable transferable knowledge for restoration of degraded ecosystems worldwide.

Your tasks
The doctoral researcher will be part of the Research Unit’s sub-project five: ‘Food security and livelihoods in restoration landscapes in western Rwanda’ and conduct research on the effects of ecosystem restoration on household welfare, food security and nutrition. The tasks include:

• Design and implementation of field research (household survey) in western Rwanda
• Empirical analysis of quantitative data using statistical and econometric methods
• Active interaction with other researchers in the research unit FOR 5501 across disciplinary boundaries
• Presentation and publication of research results

Your profile

• Outstanding Master degree in Agricultural Economics, Development Economics or a related discipline
• Strong analytical skills and experience with quantitative research methods
• Proven interest in topics related to rural development economics, ecosystem restoration, food security
• Willingness and ability to work under field conditions in the tropics (rural Rwanda); work experience in the tropics is a plus
• Willingness to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with other researchers of the FOR 5501; experience of working in intercultural and interdisciplinary teams is a plus
• Excellent command of the English language

The position is based in Göttingen (Germany) but requires traveling and extended research stays in Rwanda. The position is intended to qualify young scientists and offers the opportunity to prepare a PhD thesis. The position is recruited in the research group of Prof. Dr. Meike Wollni. For more information about the Chair Group please visit: http://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/108411.htmlP. Your complete application package should include motivation letter, CV with the contact details of two referees, university certificates and transcripts, and a 1-2 page summary of your Master thesis.

The University of Göttingen is an equal opportunities employer and places particular emphasis on fostering career opportunities for women. Qualified women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply in fields in which they are underrepresented. The university has committed itself to being a family-friendly institution and supports their employees in balancing work and family life. The University is particularly committed to the professional participation of severely disabled employees and therefore welcomes applications from severely disabled people. In the case of equal qualifications, applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preference. A disability or equality is to be included in the application in order to protect the interests of the applicant.

Please upload your application in one pdf file including the usual documents until 6/20/2023 on the application portal of the university using this link: http://obp.uni-goettingen.de/de-de/OBF/Index/74082. For more information get in touch with Torluccio Jessica directly via E-Mail: jessica.torluccio@agr.uni-goettingen.de, Tel. 05513924854 .

Please note:
With submission of your application, you accept the processing of your applicant data in terms of data-protection law. Further information on the legal basis and data usage is provided in the Information General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)