Description:


Language: English (UK)
Location: Esch-sur-Alzette
Country: Luxembourg

Organisation data: Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems
Job Number: UOL08508
Contract Type: Permanent
Expected Start Date: 01/11/2026

Job Level: level 1
Functions: Researcher
Role Type: Cluster
Expertise: Researcher / Postdoctorant
Job (internal): Research scientist


Your role:

The successful candidate will establish internationally visible research at the interface of economics, sustainability science and global environmental change, developing new quantitative approaches to understand and steer transformations across food, land, water and natural-resource systems.
The candidate's research will combine economic theory, fine-scale spatial data, empirical evidence and computational modelling to explain trade-offs, synergies and spillovers that remain hidden in single-scale analyses. Relevant research may address at least three of the following fields: agricultural production, labor markets, natural-resource scarcity, food security, climate change, technological change, impacts of demographic transition, social cohesion, resilience of supply chains, environmental policy, and the distributional consequences of sustainability transformations.
A key ambition is to move beyond diagnosing unsustainable trajectories towards designing effective and equitable transformation pathways, exploring how policy, innovation and global interconnectedness can reconcile environmental sustainability with food security, livelihoods and economic development.


Your profile:

The successful candidate holds a strong academic background in economics, agricultural or environmental economics, together with an internationally recognized research record. They have demonstrated expertise in economic theory and quantitative modelling, complemented by experience with spatially explicit data, empirical estimation, computational methods or other approaches capable of linking processes across scales.
Additionally, they can translate theoretical concepts into transparent, empirically grounded models and integrate economic analysis with insights and data from other disciplines. Experience in interdisciplinary research on food, land, water, climate, natural resources or related sustainability challenges can be proven by documented participation within interdisciplinary networks and projects.
The successful candidate is an intellectually independent researcher with the ambition to build a collaborative, interdisciplinary research team, attract competitive research funding, develop innovative methodological approaches and contribute to policy-relevant sustainability science. A commitment to open, reproducible research, excellent communication across disciplinary boundaries, and the ability to engage effectively with policy and practice are essential.


The ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD in a relevant field and a minimum of 4 years Postdoc experience demonstrating ability to independently develop a research agenda
• A strong capability to think out of the box and shape their research around the challenges posed by interdisciplinary questions
• A strong record of research excellence, evidenced by impactful publications and success in securing external research funding
• Willingness to contribute to teaching programmes at the undergraduate and graduate levels in areas related to environmental change and socio-environmental systems


Language requirements:

The University of Luxembourg is set in a multilingual and multicultural context. The person hired for this position must have an excellent command of English. The University encourages its staff to learn additional languages and provides access to language courses to this end.


We offer:

• A modern, dynamic university with a personal and inclusive atmosphere. Multilingual and international character. Staff coming from more than 90 countries. Member of The Guild of European Research Intensive Universities
• An exceptional research environment, supported by skilled staff and high-quality equipment. Strong links to professional sectors and the Luxembourg labour market. A unique urban campus with excellent infrastructure
• A partner for society and industry. Cooperation with European institutions, innovative companies, the Financial Centre and a wide range of non-academic partners including ministries, local governments, associations, and NGOs
• Attractive salary and benefits packages with excellent opportunities for external funding. Support for career development and mentoring. Services to promote staff well-being and a healthy work-life balance


How to apply:

Applications should contain:

• CV; you may include any periods of absence from work, such as family-related leave or career breaks, if you consider them relevant for the fair assessment of your experience
• Cover letter detailing your motivation for applying to the advertised research topic and/or project, including how your background, interests, and career goals align with its objective
• Short description of profile, key achievements and impact, summarizing main publications and projects
• Lists of publications, research projects, PhD theses supervised and subjects taught if applicable


All applications will be handled in the strictest confidence. Applications by post or e-mail cannot be considered. Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception.


General Information:

• Reference: UOL08508 (to be mentioned in all correspondence)
• Publication date: -
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Working Hours:
• Location: Belval Campus
• Planned starting date: 01/11/2026


Gender equality:

In line with our values, the University of Luxembourg encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, diversity and a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of everybody is respected. The University is committed to achieving gender parity among its academic staff. Should candidates present equivalent CVs, preference will be given to female candidates in all departments where gender parity is not yet achieved.