Die Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde (HNEE) ist mit ihrer ganzheitlichen nachhaltigen Ausrichtung, ihrem einzigartigen und an zukunftsrelevanten Themen ausgerichteten Studienangebot und als starke Institution im Bereich der Nachhaltigkeitsforschung Impulsgeberin für nachhaltige Entwicklung. Rund 2.300 Studierende aus etwa 60 Nationen studieren und mehr als 400 Beschäftigte lehren, forschen und arbeiten an der modernen Campushochschule. Die Transformation hin zu einer nachhaltigen Gesellschaft durch die Entwicklung tragfähiger Modelllösungen voranzutreiben und die Studierenden mit Gestaltungskompetenz auszustatten, das ist die Mission der HNEE.

An der HNE Eberswalde am Biosphere Reserves Institute ist zum 01.02.2026 (befristet bis 31.12.2028) mit der Option auf Verlängerung folgende zwei Stellen zu besetzen:

Promotionsstelle (d/m/w)

Das Biosphere Reserves Institute (BRI) an der Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde (HNEE) wurde 2019 gegründet, um UNESCO-Biosphärenreservate auf ihrem Weg zu Modellregionen für nachhaltige Entwicklung zu unterstützen. Seit 2024 ist das BRI ein Institut der Kategorie 2 unter der Schirmherrschaft der UNESCO. Zur Unterstützung der wissenschaftlichen Arbeit im BRI bieten wir zwei Promotionsstellen an. Die Kandidat*innen können sich auf eines der vier Themen bewerben:

• The role of wild and traditional crops in local food cultures and their significance for the resilience of socio-ecological systems within biosphere reserves (Prof. Dr. Katja Arzt): More than 7,000 wild plants are edible, yet only a few are integrated into food systems, despite their relevance for food security, climate adaptation, and cultural identity. Socio-ecological research in Biosphere Reserves on traditional plants supports biodiversity, sustainable land use, and biocultural diversity. Participatory, comparative studies in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean can position biosphere reserves as spaces for socio-ecological innovation.
• Adaptive water governance in mountain biosphere reserves (Prof. Dr. Martin Welp): The pro-posed PhD research applies the WEFE (Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem) Nexus approach to mountain BRs. By integrating adaptive governance with transdisciplinary knowledge co-production, the study will investigate existing governance forms, supportive conditions, and necessary institutional arrangements in water emergency regions like the Hindu Kush Himalaya and the Andes. Utilizing social-ecological system analysis and empirical methods, the research seeks to contribute to effective water management practices and strengthen collaborations within international networks.
• Biosphere Reserves Monitoring Toolkit (BRMT): An open-source MRV toolkit for monitoring the effectiveness of BR zoning based on land use land cover changes and anomalies (Prof. Dr. Jan-Peter Mund): It is widely recognised that the continuous monitoring of the effectiveness of protected landscapes with respect to biodiversity and ecosystem services, utilising geospatial open data, has been somewhat neglected over the past decade. The proposed PhD project has therefore been devised to develop the Biosphere Reserves Monitoring Toolkit (BRMT), an open-source online toolkit built on Google Earth Engine (GEE) to support spatially enhanced monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) requirements for BRs worldwide based on a set of SMART ecosystem indicators. In order to achieve this objective, the PhD scholar will be required to develop and test a suite of custom geospatial algorithms and indicators. These will include machine learning supervised classification models to detect changes in land use and land cover using multisensor satellite and geospatial data.
• Biosphere Reserves as catalysts for transformative human-nature relationships and impacts – An international cross-case comparison (Prof. Dr. Carsten Mann): In this PhD, the role of Biosphere Reserves is elaborated how they can initiate purposeful action to increase human contact, interactions and involvement with nature to foster pro-nature practices. It shall be researched how an enhanced nature connectedness leads to (stewardship) action for biodiversity conservation by elaborating key factors for initiative design and establishment, patterns and impacts. A comparative case study analysis of different initiatives and in different social-ecological contexts will be conducted that seek to (re)establish nature society connections in BR, for mutual learning, transfer and action.

Das jeweilige Thema wird von einer BRI-Professorin / einem BRI Professor betreut (siehe in Klammern). Die Bewerber*innen sollten in ihren Bewerbungen ihr Interesse und ihre bisherige wissenschaftliche Be-schäftigung mit dem/den bevorzugten Thema/Themen darstellen. Die Bewerbungen können auf Deutsch oder English verfasst sein. Das BRI ist offen für Anpassungen der geschilderten Themen, die im Bewer-bungsschreiben erwähnt werden können. Eine ausführliche Beschreibung des jeweiligen Themas ist auf der Webseite des BRI zu finden: https://www.biospherereserves.institute/phd . Die Promotionsstellen beinhalten 3 Semesterwochenstunden (SWS) Lehre an der HNEE. Das in der Gründungsphase befindliche Promotionskollegs der brandenburgischen Hochschulen für angewandte Wissenschaften wird ebenfalls ein akademisches Umfeld bieten.

Ihre Aufgaben

• selbständige Durchführung des Dissertationsprojektes zu Biosphärenreservaten
• aktive Teilnahme und Unterstützung der Aktivitäten und Aufgaben des UNESCO Cat. II Biosphere Reserves Institutes an der HNEE
• Lehre im Umfang von 3 SWS

Anforderungen

• sehr gute Kenntnisse und ausgewiesene fachliche Expertise im jeweils bevorzugten Themengebiet, Nachgewiesen durch die Ausrichtung der Studienabschlüsse, Abschlussarbeiten oder sonstigen Qualifikationen
• gute Kenntnisse im Management natürlicher Ressourcen, bzw. sozial-ökologischer Systeme, vorrangig in Bezug zu Biosphären Reservaten
• ausgewiesene interkulturelle Fähigkeiten
• gute bis sehr gute Studienabschlüsse
• Englischkenntnisse auf beruflichem Niveau erforderlich (mindestens B2)

Wünschenswert

• Erfahrungen in der Forschung, Management oder Bildung im Kontext von Biosphärenreservaten
• Gender- und Diversity-Kompetenz sowie die Bereitschaft, zu einer diskriminierungskritischen und inklusiven Hochschulkultur beizutragen

Zudem identifizieren Sie sich mit dem Nachhaltigkeitsanspruch der Hochschule und tragen zu einer diskriminierungskritischen und inklusiven Hochschulkultur bei.

Ihre Vorteile bei uns:

Wir begrüßen alle Bewerbungen – unabhängig von Geschlecht, Nationalität, ethnischer und sozialer Herkunft, Religion/Weltanschauung, Behinderung, Alter sowie sexueller Orientierung und Identität. Die HNEE strebt in allen Beschäftigtengruppen eine ausgewogene Geschlechterrelation an. Personen mit einer Schwerbehinderung werden bei entsprechender Eignung vorrangig berücksichtigt.

Bitte senden Sie Ihre Bewerbung mit den üblichen Unterlagen (Anschreiben, Lebenslauf, Arbeitszeugnisse/Beurteilungen, ggf. relevante Fortbildungsnachweise, ohne Foto) bis zum 24.11.2024 direkt über das Online-Bewerbungsformular.

Bei inhaltlichen Rückfragen zur ausgeschriebenen Stelle wenden Sie sich bitte an BRI Geschäftsführerin Dr. Ana Filipa Ferreira (filipa.ferreira@hnee.de).

Wir freuen uns auf Ihre Bewerbung!

The Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) is, with its holistic approach to sustainability, its unique range of courses geared towards future-oriented topics and its strong institutional commitment to the field of sustainability research, a driving force for sustainable development. Around 2,300 students from about 60 nations study and more than 400 employees teach, research and work at the modern university. The mission of the HNEE is to lead the transformation towards a sustainable society by developing viable model solutions and equipping students with the necessary skills to shape the future.

At the HNE Eberswalde at the Biosphere Reserves Institute, the following two positions are available as of February 1, 2026 (limited until December 31, 2028) with the option of extension:

Promotionsstelle

The Biosphere Reserves Institute (BRI) at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) was established in 2019 to support UNESCO Biosphere Reserves on their path to becoming model regions for sustainable development. Since 2024, the BRI has been a Category 2 institute under the auspi-ces of UNESCO. We offer two doctoral positions to support scientific work at the BRI. Candidates can apply for one of four topics:

• The role of wild and traditional crops in local food cultures and their significance for the resilience of socio-ecological systems within biosphere reserves (Prof. Dr. Katja Arzt): More than 7,000 wild plants are edible, yet only a few are integrated into food systems, despite their relevance for food security, climate adaptation, and cultural identity. Socio-ecological research in Biosphere Reserves on traditional plants supports biodiversity, sustainable land use, and biocultural diversity. Participatory, comparative studies in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean can position biosphere reserves as spaces for socio-ecological innovation.
• Adaptive water governance in mountain biosphere reserves (Prof. Dr. Martin Welp): The pro-posed PhD research applies the WEFE (Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem) Nexus approach to mountain BRs. By integrating adaptive governance with transdisciplinary knowledge co-production, the study will investigate existing governance forms, supportive conditions, and necessary institutional arrangements in water emergency regions like the Hindu Kush Himalaya and the Andes. Uti-lizing social-ecological system analysis and empirical methods, the research seeks to contribute to effective water management practices and strengthen collaborations within international networks.
• Biosphere Reserves Monitoring Toolkit (BRMT): An open-source MRV toolkit for monitoring the effectiveness of BR zoning based on land use land cover changes and anomalies (Prof. Dr. Jan-Peter Mund): It is widely recognised that the continuous monitoring of the effectiveness of pro-tected landscapes with respect to biodiversity and ecosystem services, utilising geospatial open data, has been somewhat neglected over the past decade. The proposed PhD project has therefore been devised to develop the Biosphere Reserves Monitoring Toolkit (BRMT), an open-source online toolkit built on Google Earth Engine (GEE) to support spatially enhanced monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) requirements for BRs worldwide based on a set of SMART ecosystem indicators. In order to achieve this objective, the PhD scholar will be required to develop and test a suite of custom geospatial algorithms and indicators. These will include machine learning supervised classification models to detect changes in land use and land cover using multisensor satellite and geospatial data.
• Biosphere Reserves as catalysts for transformative humannature relationships and impacts – An international cross-case comparison (Prof. Dr. Carsten Mann): In this PhD, the role of Biosphere Reserves is elaborated how they can initiate purposeful action to increase human contact, interactions and involvement with nature to foster pro-nature practices. It shall be researched how an enhanced nature connectedness leads to (stewardship) action for biodiversity conservation by elaborating key factors for initiative design and establishment, patterns and impacts. A compara-tive case study analysis of different initiatives and in different social-ecological contexts will be conducted that seek to (re)establish nature society connections in BR, for mutual learning, transfer and action.

Each topic will be supervised by a BRI professor (in parentheses). Applicants should outline their interest and previous academic engagement with the topic in their applications. Applications may be written in German or English. The BRI is open for adaptation of the described topics, which can be detailed in the application. Two of the four proposed topics will be filled with a PhD position. A description of each topic can be found on the BRI website: https://www.biospherereserves.institute/phd . The doctoral positions include 3 semester hours per week (SWS) of teaching at HNEE. The doctoral college of Brandenburg's universities of applied sciences, which is currently in its founding phase, will also offer an academic environment.

Your tasks

• Independent execution of the dissertation project on biosphere reserves
• Active participation in and support of the activities and tasks of the UNESCO Cat. II Biosphere Reserves Institute at HNEE
• Teaching amounting to 3 SWS

Requirements

• Very good knowledge and proven expertise in the preferred subject area, demonstrated by the focus of academic degrees, theses, or other qualifications
• Good knowledge of natural resource management and social-ecological systems, primarily in relation to biosphere reserves
• Proven intercultural skills
• Good to very good academic degrees
• Professional-level English language skills required (B2 or higher)

Desiberale

• Experience in research, management, or education in the context of biosphere reserves

Your advantages at the HNEE

HNEE offers you a modern, family-friendly workplace in a green environment with excellent public transport connections. Compensation is based on the collective agreement (TV-L). The university provides a subsidy for the VBB job ticket, offers flexible working hours, and the possibility of remote work. Furthermore, we support our employees through active health management (e.g., active breaks); we have a particular interest in long-term employment and the personal development of our staff.

We welcome all applications, regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, as well as sexual orientation and identity. HNEE aims for a balanced gender ratio in all employee groups. Individuals with disabilities will be given priority consideration if they meet the required qualifications. The submission of application photos is not required.

Please submit your application with the usual documents (cover letter, resume, work refer-ences/evaluations, and any relevant training certificates) by 24.11.2025, directly through the online application form.

If you have any questions related to the BRI and the positions, please contact Dr. Ana Filipa Ferreira (filipa.ferreira@hnee.de), executive director of the BRI.

We look forward to receiving your application!