Assistant Climate Change Resilience Jobs (NOW HIRING)

NEW

Full-time

Research and Instruction

The University of Freiburg is advertising for the Tenure-Track Professorship in Silviculture and Climate Change Adaption at the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources in the Institute of Forest Sciences.

• Publication date: 13. July 2026
• Application deadline: 31. August 2026
• Start-date: At the earliest possible date.
• Scope of work: Full-time position
• Id no.: 00005090

The position is paid according to the W1 pay scale, for which allowances can also be paid.

The position is suitable for highly qualified early‑career researchers (§ 51 Section 3 LHG).

The professorship represents the field of Silviculture and Climate Change Adaptation in research and teaching. Its scientific core focus is the investigation and further development of silvicultural strategies aimed at adapting and sustainably developing forest ecosystems under conditions of climate change. An emphasis is placed on viewing forests as complex systems in which silvicultural measures, ecological processes, and societal demands interact.

Research activities include the development of close‑to‑nature and climate‑resilient management approaches, the evaluation of silvicultural adaptation measures or the study of forest regeneration under changing climatic conditions. In cooperation with neighboring disciplines, additional areas of focus can be maintained, such as analysing how different tree species and forest structures respond to climatic stress factors.

A strong commitment to teaching in forestry and environmental science programmes is required.

• Demonstrated scientific expertise in the field of silviculture, evidenced by relevant international publications.
• Sound research experience on adaptation strategies of forest ecosystems to climate change, resilience, adaptation mechanisms or silvicultural measures.
• An independent, internationally competitive research profile with clear potential for further development.
• Experience in university teaching and in supervising theses.
• Experience in acquiring third‑party funding.
• Participation in national and/or international collaborative projects.
• Documented interdisciplinary collaboration.

In all other respects, the conditions for appointment according to § 51 LHG apply.

The professorship will be established as an endowed professorship funded by the Eva Mayr‑Stihl Foundation and will be closely integrated into the activities of the Cluster of Excellence Future Forests. Applicants are required, through their own internationally visible research, to further strengthen the profile of the cluster and to provide new impulses. Further engagement in the university’s research centres, research collaborations, and key research areas, such as Pathways to Sustainability, is desirable.

The position will initially be limited to four years. If the intermediate evaluation is successful, it will be extended by a further two years for a total of six years. The tenure procedure for W3 will also be initiated after a successful intermediate evaluation. The tenure procedures are regulated in the statutes and quality assurance concept for junior professorships and tenure‑track professorships and have been agreed with the Ministry of Science (https://uni-freiburg.de/universitaet/verwaltung/service/tenure-track-professuren-und-juniorprofessuren/). The prerequisites for granting tenure and the subsequent transfer to a W3 professorship are: (1) fulfilment of the requirements according to the statutes and quality assurance concept and (2) fulfilment of the subject‑specific criteria defined by the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources.

Please send your application including supporting documents mentioned above and the application form as well as the filled‑out attachment to the application form for Junior‑ and Tenure‑Track‑Professorship citing the reference number 00005090, by 31. August 2026 at the latest.

Required application materials:

• Resumé
• Certificates and diplomas with a transcript of records/diploma supplement
• Complete list of publications and lectures, indicating the 3 most important publications (and stating the ORCID iD, Google Scholar Citation Index or similar)
• List of ongoing and completed projects including financial volume
• Concept paper (1–2 pages) outlining future priorities in research and teaching

We will be particularly pleased to receive applications from women for the position advertised here.

The university supports individuals appointed to professorial positions through a Dual Career Service and a Family Service.