Research Assistant , EG 13 TV-H. in the Faculty of Humanities and Cultural Studies and the Kassel Institute for Sustainability bei Universität Kassel
Research Assistant (m/f/d), EG 13 TV-H. in the Faculty of Humanities and Cultural Studies and the Kassel Institute for Sustainability bei Universität Kassel
The University of Kassel is a modern and growing University with round about 22.000 students. The university’s wide range of expertise covers subjects in the natural, applied, cultural and social sciences.
At the Kassel Institute for Sustainability - Department of Cultures of Sustainability (Prof. Dr. Andra-Ioana Horcea-Milcu) and in the Faculty of Humanities and Cultural Studies, the following position is available as of 01.01.2025:
Research Assistant (m/w/d), EG 13 TV-H, fixed term-position, part-time (currently 30 hours per week)
Application deadline:
01.10.2024
Date of hire: 01.01.2025
vacancy number: 37688
for a Transdisciplinary transformative case study with a focus on the role of values for transformative change (Germany as case study country)
Part time position with 75,00 percent of the working hours of a full-time employee. The position is initially limited for 3 years with the possibility of extension for a further 2 years (qualification position according to § 72 HHG in conjunction with § 2 Abs. 1 Satz 1 WissZeitVG). The possibility of obtaining a PhD is provided.
The Kassel Institute for Sustainability is a new interdisciplinary center in the field of sustainability transformation with a unique four-fold focus on nature, technology, culture, and society. The center aims to become a significant player in developing options to inspire and enable social transformations as per the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through scholarly research, effective networking, and dedicated teaching.
The Faculty of Humanities and Cultural Studies of the University of Kassel is a broad-based, diverse teaching, research, and educational unit that is characterized by a richness of conventional and unconventional topics. It welcomes inter- and transdisciplinarity within its doctoral programs, lectures, research projects, and science-society partnerships.
This PhD position is linked to the ERC funded project (Our sustainabLe futurE, the ValuEs that dRive it, and how to get there) led by Prof. Horcea-Milcu. The vision of the project is to reframe knowledge production for sustainability transformation, and to bridge knowledge, people, and action. It seeks to develop and apply the theory and practice of how to conduct research that purposefully supports sustainability transformation, with a special focus on how to activate sustainability-aligned values for sustainability transformation(s). This PhD position is starting together with a team of new PhD candidates, each focusing on different case studies. We are therefore a growing team exchanging with a large network including, for example, research groups at the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science, Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (Karlsruhe), Institute of Environmental Planning (Hannover), Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development (Utrecht).
Tasks:
- Academic collaboration in research and teaching in the field of Cultures of Sustainability
- Independent work on a research topic with a focus on
- The role of values for sustainability transformation
- Place-based values assessment
- Implementation of transformative methods within the frame of a transdisciplinary transformative case study in a municipality in Germany, with a special focus on the role of values as leverage points for sustainability transformation and the inner dimensions of sustainability transformations
Requirements: - Academic university degree with good to very good results completed in sustainability science or in sustainability-oriented social sciences, human geography, anthropology, cultural studies, etc. The required qualification must be available by the recruitment date at the latest
- Oral and written proficiency in English
- German language competency is a requirement for this position
Advantageous: - Previous experience in working with deep leverage points (values, inner worlds, worldviews)
- Published work
- Willingness to work in an international and transdisciplinary team
Please attach the following documents as a single merged pdf file of maximum 3 pages to the application:
- Curriculum vitae with publication(s)
- Letter of application describing your research interests and your motivation for this position
The successful applicant will be supported to develop academic qualifications.
The research will be led by Prof. Dr. Andra-Ioana Horcea-Milcu at the University of Kassel in Germany.
For all positions and general information, please email andra.milcu(at)uni-kassel.de
In the event of any differences between the German and English versions of this call for application, the German wording is legally binding.