Forschungsgruppe „Bioeconomy Economics“ und Professur für Physische Geographie mit Schwerpunkt Mensch-Umwelt-Forschung - englische Fassung bei Universität Passau

Universität Passau

The University of Passau owes its strong visibility and reputation to excellent research, innovative teaching
and its tight-knit international academic networks. Some 11,000 students and more than 1,300 staff study
and work on our university campus, which is located a stone’s throw from the historical Old Town of Passau
and combines state-of-the-art technical infrastructure with award-winning architecture. Internationally
successful high-tech companies and a vibrant start-up scene, coupled with a rich culture and Lower
Bavarian traditions, give Passau and the surrounding area a special appeal that makes it a great place to
live and work.

The research group “Bioeconomy Economics” (Dr Terese Venus) of the School of Business,
Economics and Information Systems and the Professorship of Physical Geography with a focus on
Human-Environment Research of the Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences (Professor Christine
Schmitt) of the University of Passau invite applications for the position of

Graduate Research Assistant

for the EU-financed WATERWISE project.

The position is available from 1 October 2024 (earliest starting date). Remuneration is in accordance with
pay grade 13 of the German public-sector collective agreement (TV-L E13) and includes comprehensive
social benefits for employees in the public sector. This is an 0.6 FTE (60%) position based on a three-year
fixed-term contract.

The project
The successful candidate will work on the European Union’s Interreg Alpine Space project entitled
“WATERWISE: Co-designing sustainable management solutions for resilient Alpine headwaters”, which
aims to support a climate-resilient and green Alpine region. Climate change is increasingly impacting on
mountain headwaters (HW), which constitute the main source of freshwater in the Alpine region.
Considerable changes in water availability and quality pose significant challenges for Alpine communities
and have profound implications for the ecosystem services on which they depend.

For this project, you will compile socio-economic parameters (e.g. changing water demand patterns and
competing needs) from existing databases, estimate socio-economic impacts in a range of different
scenarios, and organise stakeholder meetings at the German pilot site (e.g. Zugspitze) in order to test,
improve and finalise the toolbox. You will also create a guideline for the implementation of stakeholder
workshops at the other pilot sites and offer consultations when needed. The University of Passau team will
work closely with all project partners, particularly the French professional network of nature reserve
managers (Réserves Naturelles de France).

Your profile

We are looking for a highly motivated individual who is interested in conducting field research in
Germany and Austria.

Must have a university master’s degree with excellent grades in applied economics, resource

economics, environmental economics or a related subject

Very good quantitative skills (e.g. econometrics, statistics in Stata or R) are required
Experience with (or an interest in learning about) spatial analysis using Geographic Information

Systems (GIS) and/or R would be an advantage

Interest in learning about qualitative approaches (e.g. focus groups, interviews, stakeholder

analysis)

Very good written and spoken English and German language skills

What we offer
• The opportunity to do a doctorate (Dr.rer.pol.) on the topic of socio-economic impacts of climate

change on alpine source areas (e.g. for tourism, agriculture and selected ecosystem services)
under the supervision of Dr Venus (Bioeconomy Economics) and Professor Schmitt (Physical
Geography)

Regular participation in international conferences and integration into an international research

network

If you are aiming for a doctorate, a research stay with a project partner and access to a wide range

of doctoral courses offered by the University of Passau and the Bavarian Graduate Program in
Economics (BGPE)

Further information
The University of Passau is committed to gender equality and wishes to increase the number of female
academic employees: women are therefore expressly encouraged to apply. Moreover, this position is
suitable for candidates with disabilities. Applicants who are registered disabled are given preference over
non-disabled applicants who do not otherwise have statutory preferential status if their overall personal
aptitudes, skills and qualifications are