Matin Qaim

The Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn is offering two fully funded doctoral researcher positions in Agricultural Economics, with a focus on development economics and rural labor markets in Africa. These positions are part of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC 228) 'Future Rural Africa,' funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The research will be supervised by Prof. Matin Qaim and Dr. Martin Parlasca and will involve empirical studies on rural labor markets and employment in Kenya, Tanzania, and other African countries. Doctoral researchers will be integrated into ZEF’s Doctoral Program (BIGS-DR) and will work towards their doctoral degree. Key research tasks include conducting economics research on agricultural and non-agricultural employment trends, planning and implementing micro-level surveys of rural households, preparing and publishing research papers, and presenting research results at conferences and workshops. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary and international collaboration, with opportunities for travel and cooperation with partners in Africa. Applicants should have a master’s degree in agricultural economics, development economics, or related fields, and experience with quantitative research methods and statistical packages. Qualitative research experience and prior work in Africa are considered advantageous. Strong English communication skills, interpersonal abilities, and willingness to travel are required. The University of Bonn is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. Funding is provided for the full duration of the doctoral program (April 2026–December 2029), with a competitive salary (TVL-E13, 70%). Applications must be submitted online via the university portal by January 18, 2026. For more information about ZEF and CRC 228, visit the provided links. Research areas: Agricultural Economics, Development Economics, Rural Labor Markets, Africa Institution: University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF) Funding: Fully funded (DFG, TVL-E13, 70%) Eligibility: Master’s degree, quantitative research experience, English proficiency Application deadline: January 18, 2026

The University of Bonn’s Center for Development Research (ZEF) is recruiting for the new Collaborative Research Center (CRC 1780) Food System Diversification for Sustainable Nutrition (FoodDiverse) , funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The announcement covers 24 doctoral researchers and 8 postdoctoral researchers working in the broader field of sustainable food systems . This interdisciplinary project studies relationships between diversification at different food system levels—such as agriculture, markets, diets, and planetary health—in Germany and Ghana, in close cooperation with the University of Ghana and several partner institutions including DZNE, Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels, IDOS, and ZALF. The research spans multiple disciplines, including agricultural economics , agronomy, sociology, environmental sciences, ecology, nutrition, and human health. Doctoral researchers will conduct research on CRC topics, including method development, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and publication of results, and will also prepare a dissertation. Postdoctoral researchers will carry out similar research tasks and are expected to have prior experience in food system-related topics, demonstrated through publications. Eligibility highlights include a Master’s degree for doctoral positions or a doctorate for postdoctoral positions, strong English language skills, interest in interdisciplinary collaboration, and willingness to travel internationally for fieldwork, cooperation, and conference presentations. The positions are in TV-L pay grade 13 , with 65% funding for doctoral researchers and 100% funding for postdoctoral researchers . The project also provides full funding for field work, travel, and related research costs, plus support for career development. Applications must be submitted through the online portal by 14 June 2026 . Applicants should indicate which CRC project(s) they are interested in. More details and the application portal are available on the FoodDiverse website.

University of Bonn is recruiting a four-year fixed-term postdoctoral researcher for the FoodDiverse Collaborative Research Centre (CRC 1780), a large interdisciplinary project on food system diversification for sustainable nutrition . The postdoc will work in sub-project B04 on assessing the sustainability of diversification strategies in the global food system using recursive-dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) analysis and the CGEBox modeling system. The research focuses on production, consumption, and trade, with emphasis on Ghana and Germany. The role includes building a global database with high agri-food detail, covering micro- and macro-nutrients and multiple households, developing and refining indicators and metrics for sustainability, and analyzing diversification scenarios. This is a strong fit for candidates with backgrounds in agricultural economics , environmental economics , economics , and computational modeling. The postdoc will join a team of researchers working across disciplines and will be mentored by experienced CGE modelers. The broader CRC is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and includes doctoral and postdoctoral positions across multiple projects. Eligibility highlights: PhD in agricultural economics or related field; substantial experience with global CGE models; ability to code independently in GAMS preferred; strong quantitative data handling skills; publication record appropriate to career stage; ability to collaborate across disciplines; willingness and ability to travel to Ghana. Funding and conditions: 100% working time, starting 1 October 2026, with remuneration according to TV-L E13 . The position includes support for conference travel, field trips, open-access publications, and company pension scheme (VBL). Extension beyond four years may be possible depending on second-phase funding. How to apply: Submit the application in English via the University of Bonn portal. Include a motivation letter, CV with publications, academic certificates and transcripts, a recent research article, and contact details for two academic referees. The deadline is 14 June 2026 .