The Institute for Market Analysis of the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, in Braunschweig is offering a part-time position (19,5 hours/week) starting as soon as possible as part of a representation and limited till 30.11.2027 a research assistant (f/m/d) Sustainable Nutrition to support the area of “Sustainable nutrition”.
In Germany, but also worldwide, interest in sustainable diets is growing and the proportion of vegan and vegetarian diets is increasing. Current knowledge suggests that consuming plant-based foods tends to be more beneficial than consuming animal-based foods, particularly in terms of health and environmental impacts. However, due to the increasing variety of foods available, heterogeneous production methods and the complexity of nutrition-related behaviours, it is not possible to provide a general answer as to which diets have the most positive effects on health, society, the environment and the economy.
Your Tasks:
- Analysis of sustainability along the food value chain
- Theoretical and conceptual considerations/research in the context of sustainable nutrition
- Networking and interdisciplinary cooperation within the Institute for Market Analysis, with other Thünen institutes and other national and international research institutions
- Acquisition, implementation and coordination of third-party funded projects
- Preparation of reports and publications
Your Profil:
Professional requirements:
- University degree in nutrition, environmental sciences, economics or related fields (university diploma, M.Sc.)
- PhD desirable
- Qualified knowledge of sustainability analysis
- Expertise in project management
- Peer-reviewed publications
Personal requirements:
- analytical thinking and critical judgement
- structured, target-oriented and independent way of working
- strong team spirit and willingness to cooperate
- Ability to present facts to different target groups in writing and orally
- good written and spoken German and English
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally
Our offer:
- Responsibility and a sense of purpose: responsible work in a dedicated team, involvement in a dynamic, interdisciplinary research institute and proximity to current policy and practice-relevant topics
- Flexibility and work-life balance: flexible working time models, fundamental mobile working and teleworking, certified employer berufundfamilie audit with a wide range of offers for reconciling work and life phases
- Prospects: further training opportunities for the area of responsibility and individual development
- Security and benefits: collectively agreed, fixed-term employment with attractive social benefits (e.g. company pension scheme, annual one-off payment, capital-forming benefits) upon fulfilment of the collective agreement and personal requirements according to pay group 13 TVöD
- Health: company health management and preventative healthcare programmes
- Mobility: JobTicket, public transport connections, free parking spaces and the option of using e-charging stations
The Thünen Institute promotes professional equality for women and men and therefore expressly welcomes applications from women.
We live a diverse and cosmopolitan coexistence. The Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute is committed to inclusion. Applications from people with severe disabilities are therefore expressly encouraged. They will be given preferential consideration in the selection process. Please enclose proof of severe disability or equal status with your application.
Dr. Thomas Schmidt (Mail: [email protected]) is available to answer technical questions.
If you have an international degree, please also enclose a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. If you do not yet have a certificate evaluation, you must apply for one if your application is successful. You can find further information at https://zab.kmk.org/de/zeugnisbewertung
Applications with a curriculum vitae in tabular form, a description of education and professional career, list of publications, addresses for two references and copies of certificates are requested by 20 August 2025, quoting the reference number 2025-152-MA, to be sent electronically (as a single PDF document) to [email protected].
