Postdoctoral researcher

Published on: 14.07.2025

The University of Bonn is an international research university with a wide education and research profile. With a 200-year history, approximately 31,500 students, more than 6,000 staff, and an excellent reputation at home and abroad, the University of Bonn is one of the most important universities in Germany and is recognized as a university of excellence.

The Center for Life Ethics is a research, teaching, and consultancy center as part of the new Heinrich Hertz Professorship within the University’s Transdisciplinary Research Area TRA 4: Individuals, Institutions and Societies. The Center broadly focuses on life and the conditions for its development and success using interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research approaches.

Postdoctoral researcher (m/w/d)

The Center for Life Ethics is seeking a Postdoctoral research (100%) for a duration of 36 months (3 years). The estimated start date is 01 January 2026, but flexible. The Postdoctoral research position would be a central scientific team member of the 5-year European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant project titled ‘Amplifying Ocean Commons: Pathways for scaling transformative governance’, with the acronym SharedSeas. The project is led by Prof. Dr. Stefan Partelow. The position is part of the research theme ‘Governance and Transformation’ at the Center for Life Ethics.

Center for Life Ethics

The research project seeks to answer the question: how can we scale effective ocean governance? The project will develop novel conceptual frameworks and empirical approaches to examine best governance practices, alternative governance models, scaling pathways, and scalability assessment protocols with inter- and trans-disciplinary approaches. The project explores the need for shared resource governance approaches across multiple levels, and is particularly interested in the viability, desirability and feasibility of commons and other equity and justice-based models for ocean governance and sustainability. 

Deadline: 25.08.2025

Reference number: 2025/83

Working time model: full time

Starting date: as soon as possible

Duration: temporary

Pay grade: TV-L EG 13

Applications to: lifeethics@uni-bonn.de 

Job posting (pdf)

Your tasks

• Be part of a collaborative inter- and transdisciplinary research team
• Contribute to the development of the project’s conceptual and theoretical orientation
• Conduct independent empirical research combining both qualitative and quantitative methods
• Lead and contribute to co-authoring high-quality publications in international peer-reviewed journals
• Integrate into, constructively maintain, and help expand collaborative international partnerships
• Support the management and strategic orientation of research with the project team
• Participate in group research projects at the intersection of ethics and other disciplines

We offer

• A salary based on the German TV-L 13 scale
• Opportunities for individual and independent research
• An international and highly interdisciplinary research environment
• Family-friendly working conditions
• A varied and challenging position with one of the biggest employers in the area
• Participation in the university-wide pension system (VBL)
• Access to the extensive university sports program
• A dedicated and motivated team with office located along the Rhine river

Your profile

Your qualifications (required): 

• A Doctoral/PhD degree on a topic related to environmental governance, natural resource management, sustainability science, ocean and coastal management, science-policy interface
• Native speaker, or very high English language proficiency
• Demonstrated independent scientific writing skills
• Knowledge of the peer-reviewed publishing landscape and processes

Your qualifications (desired): 

• One or more years of postdoctoral (independent) research experience
• Knowledge of environmental governance concepts and theories, including scaling, equity, justice
• Knowledge of regional or global ocean governance policies, treaties, networks, or commissions
• Empirical research experience designing, collecting, and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data
• Experience or interest in transdisciplinary research and co-production with non-academic partners
• Experience with raising third-party research funding, e.g., proposal writing and process management. Particularly for German and European funders i.e., DFG, BMBF, ERC, private foundations
• Disciplined in time management and workflow organization, flexible for periodic travel, team-oriented and interested in continued professional development
• German language skills are not required but useful

Diversity and equal opportunity

The University of Bonn is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. It is certified as a family-friendly university. It aims to increase the proportion of women in areas where women are under-represented and to promote their careers in particular. It therefore strongly encourages women with relevant qualifications to apply. Applications will be handled in accordance with the Landesgleichstellungsgesetz (State Equality Act). Applications from suitable individuals with a certified serious disability and those of equal status are particularly welcome.