Research Associate

The Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) conducts research with the aim of investigating, identifying, and advancing development pathways for transformation processes towards sustainability in Germany and abroad. The institute was founded in 2009 as the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) and has been affiliated with the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences under its new name since the 1st of January 2023 and is thus part of the Helmholtz Association.

For our research group reIMAGINE Arctic Research: Relations, Ethics, and Methods, we are looking for a:
Research Associate (f_m_x) Transdisciplinarity and Co-Creation, EU-Project BIRGEJUPMI

**Reference Number 10053**:
The EU-funded project "BIRGEJUPMI: Bridging Knowledge Systems for Inclusive, Resilient, and Prosperous Arctic Coastal Futures" aims to strengthen community engagement and relational environmental decision-making in Arctic coastal regions by bringing together diverse knowledge systems (Indigenous, Western, and local) and embracing a holistic, ethical, and equitable community-based approach to research with strong Indigenous leadership. The RIFS will lead BIRGEJUPMI's Work Package 4 "Local and Global Futures: Young People's Visions of Sustainable Livelihoods and Inclusive Environmental Decision-Making", and collaborate closely with long-term consortium partners, and local partners. RIFS researchers will also lead several tasks focused on data management, joint reflection, and evaluation and contribute to the project's cross-cutting work packages. Lessons learned will provide novel insights into the advancement of co-productive and transdisciplinary research approaches and evaluation practices vital to RIFS research groups and focal themes.

**Your responsibilities**:

- Co-create research infrastructures within the EU consortium to allow continuous dialogue and reflexive evaluation across different knowledge systems
- Contribute to the development of a data management plan
- Develop a comprehensive project evaluation framework
- Co-develop recommendations for the adaptation of research questions and research methods together with Indigenous and non-Indigenous project partners
- Contribute to organizing a community workshop for co-developing an overall framework of working together with scientists, young community members, and municipality personnel
- Ability to travel between Potsdam and Arctic regions for research and project meetings
- Participate in activities of the research group reIMAGINE Arctic Research and RIFS events
- Contribute to the preparation of peer reviewed publications

**Your qualifications**:

- University degree (Master, Diploma or equivalent) in anthropology, geography, international relations, development studies, area studies, or a related discipline
- Experience in working collaboratively with Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners
- Experience working in larger EU-funded projects
- Experience with co-creative and transdisciplinary research
- In-depth understanding of Arctic Indigenous cultures, protocols, and issues
- Ability to communicate effectively with culturally diverse audiences
- Experience in organizing events, workshops, including project management, budgeting and outreach
- High degree of creativity and personal initiative
- Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English
- Ability to work independently and in trans-cultural and transdisciplinary teams

**Start date**: As soon as possible
**Fixed-term**: 2 Jahre (mit der Option auf Verlängerung)
**Salary**: Die Stelle ist nach TVöD Bund (Tarifgebiet Ost) mit der Entgeltgruppe 13 bewertet. Die Eingruppierung erfolgt nach den tariflichen Bestimmungen und den entsprechenden persönlichen Voraussetzungen.
**Working hours**: Teilzeit 50% (derzeit 19,50 h/Woche)
**Place of work**: Potsdam

**What we offer**:

- Ambitious and varied tasks in a dynamic and international research environment
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Public service benefits
- Extensive training opportunities
- Professional career advice offered by our in-house Career-Centre
- Flexible working hours and conditions
- Work place at the RIFS Campus, Helmholtzstrasse 5

**Have we piqued your interest?**: