Postdoctoral researcher (f/m/d/x)

Postdoctoral researcher (f/m/d/x)

NEU

Vollzeit

Forschung und Lehre

Das Institut für Empirische Kulturwissenschaft sucht eine/n Postdoctoral researcher (f/m/d/x) Postdoctoral researcher (f/m/d/x)

Bewerbungsfrist: 10. Mai 2026

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 20. April 2026

Eintrittstermin: 1. Juli 2026

Arbeitsumfang: Fulltime position

Kennziffer: 00004947

Beschreibung

Postdoctoral researcher (f/m/d/x) at the Excellence Cluster Future Forests, University of Freiburg

Full-time (100%); remuneration according to TV-L E13

30 months (third-party funded); starting date: 1 July 2026 (or earlier)

The Excellence Cluster Future Forests at the University of Freiburg invites applications for a Postdoctoral position in the project

Navigating Complexity: Decision-Making for Future Forests

Decision-making in forest governance is increasingly shaped by uncertainty, complexity, and competing interests. However, dominant analytical approaches still rely on rational actor models that overlook the influence of power relations, cultural norms, and conflicting visions of the future. This limit the understanding of how decisions are actually made in dynamic socio-ecological contexts, especially under the pressures of climate change. As an ethnographic social science research area within Future Forests, we conceptualize decision-making practices as inherently knowledge-based, power-laden, gendered, and future-oriented.

This Post-Doc project critically builds on social science perspectives that challenge rational actor models, aiming to uncover hidden power structures, cultural norms, and social relationships that shape decision-making for future forests. It pursues two major objectives: (1) to gain a thorough understanding of how decisions for future forests are made under increasing uncertainty and growing societal challenges based on own research, exploring the dynamics of decision-making in novel SES in the Upper Rhine Valley region and further hotspot regions in Europe; (2) to develop a shared conceptual framework of how empirically grounded analyses of decision-making under complexity can be systematically linked to interdisciplinary modelling and scenario-based approaches to adaptation and transformation in novel forest socio-ecological systems (SES). To reach that aim, the Postdoc project builds a unique integrative perspective by synthesizing insights across our research theme on practices of decision making, which includes four PhD projects that each explores distinct arenas of forest-related decision-making by following institutionalized structures, diverse actors, contested species and disputed processes.

Future Forests is an interdisciplinary research center addressing the adaptation and transformation of forests and their societal use in times of global change. The Cluster of Excellence is funded by the German Research Foundation and brings together over 50 scientists from four departments and external partner institutions.

More information at:

Your Tasks

Ethnographic Research – Investigate within a multi-sited ethnographic and social science design the dynamics of decision-making in exemplarily chosen regions where novel SES are already clearly evident today in the Future Forest case study region Upper Rhine Valley and in Europe;

Conceptual work – Deliver a focused research approach that consolidates conceptual foundations for bridging decision-making research and modelling;

Support synthesis activities – Develop and apply methods for synthesis of inter- an