The Department of Coevolution of Land Use and Urbanization, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany is pleased to announce a new vacancy for a Research Fellowship position in the area of urban metabolisms, ecosomes, and supply chains. The position will focus on analyzing how urban energy, material, and population flows have changed over multiple temporal horizons from decades to centuries, emphasizing land use impacts, supply chain vulnerabilities, and environmental risks. The full-time position will be for a period of 3 years and based in Jena, Germany (part-time, minimum 75%, is possible on request). 

The Department of Coevolution of Land Use and Urbanization studies the macrotemporal interaction between cities (and their non-urban counterparts), land use, and the Earth system. Through state-of-the-art fieldwork, computation analysis, and laboratory research, as well as data compilation, it connects observations from the distant past to present planning and future predictions and explore urbanisation as a non-linear, dynamic process, answering questions such as:

• Are there commonalities, differences, or sustainability predictors for urban phenomena and their associated land uses and Earth system interactions across time and space?
• Have major social, political, economic and climatic changes resulted in historical ‘tipping points’ or path dependencies in urban and land use trajectories?

Candidate tasks

The successful candidate will play a central role in the Department and its outputs (e.g. publications, data synthesis, policy contributions). They will integrate multidisciplinary research (including complex system science, , agen-based modelling, historical, palaeoenvironmental, and archaeological research, economic geography, and urban planning) and datasets into current debates in Urban Studies. The candidate should have a background in Urban Metabolism, Urban Environments, and Urban History, with a particular interest in urban energy and material flows, land demands, and supply chains. Experience with computational approaches (e.g., complex network and supply chain analysis) is essential. Enthusiasm inintegrating historical, archaeological, and climatic datasets across different temporal and spatial scales, including uncertainty analysis, is welcome.

The candidate will work in a leading global centre for deep-time and contemporary social and Earth-system research at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, an institute that combines archaeological, historical, anthropological, geochemical, and Earth-system expertise in computational modelling, social theory, and fieldwork and laboratory methodologies. They will also work closely with key project partners and are expected to work within the framework of ongoing international research initiatives to ensure maximum reach of results.

Candidate qualifications

The ideal applicant will have a background in Urban Science, Urban or Environmental History, Urban Studies, or a related discipline and a record of applying computational methods to these areas. In-depth knowledge of research into urban catchments, hinterlands and networks, and the challenges of data compilation (including archival and archaeological research) are critical. Other prerequisites include evidence of strong oral and written communication skills, an excellent publication record, and care duties commensurate with career stage. Willingness to work as part of a team, travel to field sites, a strong work ethic, and the ability to complete tasks in a timely, structured manner are also necessities.

Essential:

• PhD and Masters degree in Urban Science, Urban or Environmental History, Urban Studies, or a similar discipline or specialism.
• Hands-on, practical experience analysing urban networks, supply chains, metabolic flows through quantitative and computational approaches.
• Enthusiasm for applying quantitative analysis to the evolution of, or applying archaeological, historical and ethnographic insights into, contemporary urban relationships to the Earth system.

Advantageous:

• Experience in studying urban change across space and time.
• Experience in land use catchments or economic complexity analysis.
• Competence in the disciplines or languages needed to interpret the relevant archival, archaeological, or urban studies datasets.
• Experience in public outreach on land use impacts and urban-environment relationships.
• Outreach skills in the context of communicated urban resilience or the ramifications of human land-use to a non-academic audience.

The position offers a unique opportunity to develop cutting edge research in the city of Jena that is renowned for its position at the intersection of Biogeochemical, Ecological Historical, and Archaeological research. The Max Planck Society promote these multidisciplinary connections and this position offers the candidate the possibility of making the most of such networks and become a leader in novel approaches to study human-Earth system dynamics across space and time.

The position will begin on the 1st of March 2027, though some flexibility in start date is possible. Renumeration will follow the public service pay scale (TVöD) up to paygroup 13, according to the candidate’s qualifications and experience. You are entitled to an annual bonus, 31 days' holiday and time off on 24th and 31st December. We also offer attractive, family-friendly flexitime and remote-working arrangements. A company pension scheme (VBL), an employer subsidy for a job ticket, the opportunity for further training, and language and health courses complete our offer.

The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more individuals with disabilities and especially encourages them to apply. We are also committed to encouraging diversity and actively challenging biases based on gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion and other components of identity. We were honored with the TOTAL E-QUALITY award for the first time in 2023 for our commitment.

The Max Planck Society supports the compatibility of family and career and is certified according to the "berufundfamilie" (“job and family”) audit.

Your application should include:

- A cover letter

- A CV of no more than 3 pages

- A list of at most 10 scientific, peer-reviewed publications related to the position

- Any relevant certificates

You are also required to name three referees to submit letters of recommendation. 

Contact for more information:

Prof. Patrick Roberts

Email: roberts@gea.mpg.de