PhD Opportunities: Learning from existing success stories in sustainable agriculture. [07.03.25]
Are you passionate about shaping a positive future towards more sustainable agricultural systems? The Department of Sustainable Use of Natural Resources (430c) - University of Hohenheim (led by Verena Seufert), the Department Ecology of Tropical Agriculture (led by Ingo Grass) and the Department of Plant Ecology (led by Andreas Schweiger) are looking for three PhD students to join the interdisciplinary project BRIGHT-Futures: Bright Spots in Agriculture.
BRIGHT-Futures aims to contribute to a paradigm shift: Instead of focusing on crises in agriculture, we shift the lens to existing success stories—farms and regions that already thrive economically, socially, and ecologically.
Your Mission:
Investigate outstanding agricultural systems ("Bright Spots") that excel in economic, ecological, and social sustainability. Through field studies in India, Kenya, Mexico, and Germany, you'll explore what makes these farms resilient, climate-friendly, and biodiversity-promoting—and uncover scalable principles for sustainable agriculture.
What We Offer:
- Three fully funded 4-year PhD positions (TV-L E13, 65%)
- Work in an international, dynamic, and interdisciplinary team
- A chance to travel and conduct field research in diverse agricultural landscapes
- Move beyond “silver bullet” solutions to identify real leverage points for sustainability
We’re looking for candidates with:
- A Master’s in sustainability science, geography, agriculture, ecology or related fields
- Strong quantitative and/or qualitative research skills (e.g., statistical & spatial analysis, surveys, interviews), depending on the PhD position
- Interest in socio-environmental systems & sustainability research
- Willingness to travel for fieldwork in tropical & rural settings
- Deadline to apply: March 24, 2025
- More details & application on our Jobs page.
Be part of a paradigm shift in sustainability research—learning from what already works!
