Research Assistant in forest sciences/socioeconomics (f/m/d)

**Research Assistant in forest sciences/socioeconomics (f/m/d)** ================================================================ * **Location:** Hamburg * **Start date:** At the earliest possible date * **Organization:** Institut für Waldwirtschaft (WF) * **Working hours:** Full-time / part-time possible * **Application deadline:** 07.12.2026 The Institute of Forest Management at the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forests, and Fisheries, located in Hamburg, is looking from 01/01/2027 until 12/21/2027 for a full-time (current working hours 39 hours/week) **research assistant in forest sciences/socioeconomics with international research experience (f/m/d)** to join the Worldwide Forest Management work area. The team at Forestry Worldwide at the Thünen Institute Forestry is dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management and forest restoration, as well as improving forest-dependent livelihoods around the world, with a particular focus on tropical regions. In our research, we assess ecosystem services and existing governance structures and conduct socio-economic surveys at both national and local levels. To strengthen our socio-economic research, we are looking for a PhD-qualified expert with international work experience to cover a parental leave position. The employment relationship is based on the TVöD Bund collective agreement and, if the tariff and personal requirements are met, is paid according to **pay group 13 TVöD Bund** – which corresponds to an annual salary of €62,489.15 to €89,579.84 for full-time employment. Your tasks **Your tasks****Your tasks** --------------------------------------- * Research and concept development in topics related to Small Scale Forestry in the tropics, for example strengthening the competitiveness of forest-based value chains of small farmers in the Global South, financial instruments to involve small farmers in forest landscape restoration and reforation programs, access and benefit sharing of incentive programs, living labs for Forest Landscape Restoration, or similar. * Analysis of existing datasets from the projects LaForeT, FLESRA, Smallholder-Teak and publication, possibly in combination with evaluation of freely available data sources, or alternatively, preparation of a review or perspectives paper * Support with writing project proposals and project acquisition, also for securing your own position in the above-mentioned topics * Advising BMLEH and other decision-makers Your profil **Your profil****Your profil** ------------------------------------------ **Your professional profil:** * university degree (university diploma, M.Sc) in forestry and a socioeconomic focus, agricultural sciences with a strong forestry connection, or a similar degree * completed doctoral degree in a relevant field * very good analytical skills and proven experience in quantitative and participatory methods * proven experience in designing and conducting research