The climate needs bright minds. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) addresses crucial scientific questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. It is one of the world’s leading research institutions in its field and offers natural and social scientists from around the world an inspiring environment for excellent interdisciplinary research.
For Research Department 3 – Transformation Pathways – PIKis offering an interdisciplinary position as
Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d)
(Position number: 29-2026 Researcher PoliClim)
at the interface of integrated assessment and political futures modelling, starting on 01.11.2026.
The position is funded for 2 years and 2 month until 31.12.2028. Renumeration is in accordance with the German public tariff scheme (TV-L Brandenburg), salary group E 13. This is a full-time position with a working time of 40 hours per week. The position can be filled on a part-time basis.
Key responsibilities:
- Engage in quantitative modelling of political factors influencing system transitions as part of the DFG-funded project PoliClim (Political Futures in Climate Scenarios). The modelling will be used to interface institutional capacity scenarios developed at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) with PIK’s own integrated assessment model REMIND.
- Contribute to the collaborative research with IDOS in PoliClim connecting climate, techno-economic and political transitions. This includes work package coordination, research synthesis, and dissemination of results to academics and stakeholders, working closely with the principal investigator for PIK’s part of the project, Prof. Dr. Elmar Kriegler.
- Contribute to the development and analysis of sustainable development pathways and international climate policy scenarios in PIK’s Research Department 3.
- Connect with the international research community on climate and development scenarios which is currently engaging in the Scenario Evolution Process to update the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs).
- Engage in stakeholder dialogues and outreach to share insights from global scenario analyses.
Requirements:
- A postgraduate degree (PhD/Dr) in economics, public policy, political science, physics, engineering, operations research, environmental sciences or a related field.
- Strong analytical skills with a passion for applied modeling.
- Track record in publishing and presenting scientific work
- Experience with programming and software development platforms (GitHub)
We expect:
- Independent and initiative-driven work style.
- Structured and goal-oriented thinking.
- Creativity and openness to new approaches.
- Reliability and high motivation levels.
- Excellent command of oral and written English.
- Willingness to travel for project meetings and workshops.
- Strong teamwork and organizational skills.
We offer:
- Creative Collaboration: Be part of an engaged, dynamic interdisciplinary team utilizing PIK’s renowned integrated assessment modelling framework.
- Top Research: Push the integrated modelling and analysis of climate and political transitions to a new frontier in the unique DFG-funded project PoliClim at the interface of political, economic and climate science.
- Global Engagement and Impact: Connect directly with international research activities on the evolution of climate and development scenarios to inform global futures.
- Networking Potential: Collaborate with PIK’s extensive national and international network of leading climate and economic research institutes.
- A Beautiful Setting: Work in a stimulating environment on Potsdam’s stunning, historic Telegrafenberg campus, just a short commute from Berlin.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: Benefit from the company daycare center “Geolino,” located within walking distance of PIK in the Telegrafenberg science park.
- Flexible Work Environment: Enjoy flexible hours and the option for mobile working (up to 50% of your time).
- Competitive Compensation: Receive a collective pay scheme and associated benefits, including a subsidized travel card or Deutschland-Ticket Job.
- Paid vacation: 30 days of paid vacation and time off on 24th and 31st December
- Free charging: opportunity to charge e-bikes for free in the Telegrafenberg campus
PIK values equality and diversity. We encourage applications without photo. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of ethnic and social origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, care responsibilities, or age. PIK seeks to increase the share of women in scientific positions and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. In cases of equal qualification and within the given legal scope, women will be given preference. PIK also encourages applications by parents returning from parental leave.
Please apply by 23.08.2026 directly via our application form below this job advertisement.
If you hold an international higher education qualification, please also submit a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. If you do not yet have a transcript evaluation, please note that you may have to request one if your application is successful. For further information, please visit the website: https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education.html
For further information or to discuss the position please contact Elmar Kriegler and Nico Bauer.
