The Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Central and Eastern Europe (IAMO) is seeking qualified candidates for

• 1 Postdoc Position
• 6 PhD Student Positions
• Applications for the position will be considered until the position is filled, at least until 15 May, 2012. For further information pls. contact Dr. Stephan Brosig (brosig[at]iamo.de).

The positions will be funded by the VW foundation within the research project “The Global Food Crisis – Impacts on wheat markets and trade in the Caucasus and Central Asia and the role of Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine” in collaboration with national and international partners, specifically the World Bank (USA), ICARE (Armenia), GCAD (Georgia), ACEPAS (Kazakhstan), the Higher School of Economics (Russia), VIAPI (Russia), SAI (Uzbekistan), and CACAARI (Uzbekistan).

The research project will investigate wheat markets in the Caucasus and Central Asia and the major supplier countries of this region, namely Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine (KRU) against the background of the on-going global food crisis. Long-term rising prices and increasing price volatility on the world markets for agricultural raw materials have considerably affected the countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus. However, until today research has more or less neglected the impact of the global food crisis on this region. There is nearly no empirical evidence on how wheat markets in this region work and how prices are formed. The present research project wants to close this research gap. Three different but closely connected working groups will carry out empirical analyses on (i) price transmission and price volatility, (ii) structure of the wheat supply chains, and (iii) wheat trade patterns and relationships.

Besides providing empirical results on important research questions, this project will also contribute to capacity-building in the countries under consideration. The PhD students coming predominantly from Central Asian and Caucasian countries will not only benefit from working in an international research team consisting of IAMO researchers and well-known scientists in the relevant field of research but also from taking part in graduate courses and PhD workshops.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Postdoc

• PhD in agricultural economics, general economics, or a related discipline
• Strong analytical skills, experience with econometric and statistical methods
• Project management experience
• Recognized expertise and publications in the research areas specified above
• Proficiency in oral and written English
• Knowledge of a language spoken in the study region is an additional asset

PhD Students

• Outstanding Master’s degree (or equivalent) in agricultural/food economics, general economics, or a related discipline
• Strong analytical skills, experience with econometric and statistical methods
• Proven interest in the project, specifically in the study region
• Proficiency in oral and written English
• Knowledge of a language spoken in the study region is an additional asset

Terms of offer

The positions will be funded for a period of three years. The PostDoc salary is based on public service position level TV-L E13, the PhD students will receive a scholarship.

IAMO is an equal opportunity employer. Female researchers are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications of disabled persons will be preferred in cases of equal qualification. IAMO offers an international and collegial working environment with an excellent infrastructure.

Application material including a cover letter illustrating your suitability for the position of interest, a detailed curriculum vitae as well as names and addresses of at least two referees (including telephone, fax numbers and email address) should be sent to: Prof. Dr. Thomas Glauben, Leibniz-Institute of Agricultural Development in Central and Eastern Europe (IAMO), Theodor-Lieser-Strasse 2, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany or preferably via email to vwproject[at]iamo.de. Applications will be considered until June 30, 2012 or until the positions are filled. The preferred starting date is September 1, 2012. For further information please contact Dr. Ramona Teuber (teuber@iamo.de).

DOCTORAL STUDENT POSITION (M/F)

The Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Central and Eastern Europe (IAMO) is seeking a qualified candidate for a

Doctoral Student Position (m/f)

Employment starting as soon as possible and is limited for 36 months, the payment is according to part time job E13 TV-L (50%).

The position will be funded within the newly founded “ScienceCampus Halle – Crop-based Bioeconomy”. The PhD student will work on a project that analyses the potential of anthocyanin accumulating cereals to provide a healthy diet. The project combines questions of technological feasibility (this part is carried out by the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant research, Gatersleben) with consumer research on acceptance and willingness to pay for such products.

PhD at the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Central and Eastern Europe (IAMO)

The consumer research part of the project will be carried out by the Agricultural Markets department at IAMO. The project will focus on consumers’ attitudes, willingness-to-buy and willingness-to-pay for cereal products with higher anthocyanin content. In this context surveys in Germany and Russia will be carried out. Moreover, the prospective PhD student will be involved in the IAMO Graduate School.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Outstanding Master’s degree (or equivalent) in agricultural/food economics, general economics, or a related discipline
• Strong analytical skills, experience with econometric and statistical methods
• Proven interest in the project
• Proficiency in oral and written English or German language, additional asset: Russian skills

Equal opportunities exist for female and male applicants. Hence, qualified women are particularly asked to apply. A family-friendly environment is given. Severely disabled people are taken in preference when the same level of qualification is given.

Send your complete and informative application inclusive cover letter illustrating your suitability for the position of interest, a detailed curriculum vitae as well as names and addresses of at least two referees (including telephone, fax numbers and email address) please by mail to

Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Development in Central and Eastern Europe (IAMO)
Dr. Ramona Teuber
Theodor-Lieser Str. 2
06108 Halle
Germany
www.iamo.de   

and by email (subject: Job Application ScienceCampus Halle) to
teuber[at]iamo.de

POST DOC RESEARCHER – IAMO CHINA CENTER

The Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Central and Eastern Europe (IAMO) is seeking a qualified candidate to join the IAMO China Center as a post doc researcher at the nearest possible date.

The scientists in this group analyze issues of agricultural and rural development, the food industry and food consumption in China. They collaborate with foreign partners, particularly in China. The main task of the successful candidate is to conduct economic research on topics related to these fields, especially in one of the following areas with respect to China:

• Socioeconomic rural development including health, education and environmental issues
• Agricultural production, processing of agricultural and food products, as well as agricultural and food markets
• Consumer studies, particularly related to food

The postdoctoral researcher is welcome to develop his/her own area of research. Teaching is not required but teaching possibilities are offered.

Required qualifications and experience

• PhD in general economics, agricultural or food economics, or social sciences
• Excellent analytical skills and knowledge of econometric and statistical methods
• Recognized expertise and publications in the research areas specified above
• Ability to conduct research independently as well as in teams
• Ability to raise external research funding
• Proficiency in oral and written English
• Experience in research on China is regarded an asset

Terms of offer

IAMO provides an international and co-operative working environment with an excellent infrastructure. The appointment will be for a period of three years initially. The salary will be negotiated to be based on public service position level TV-L E13 or on an IAMO post doc scholarship.

Application

Qualified candidates are welcome to submit their application documents which should include a cover letter illustrating their suitability for the position, a detailed curriculum vitae as well as names and addresses of three referees (including telephone and email address).

Applications should be sent to:

Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Central and Eastern Europe (IAMO), Prof. Dr. Thomas Glauben, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 2, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
or preferably via email to chinacenter[at]iamo.de; Subject: “Job application, China Center”

Applications for the position will be considered until the position is filled, at least until 15 May, 2012. For further information pls. contact Dr. Stephan Brosig (brosig[at]iamo.de).