Post-doc Position in Philosophical Ethics of Natural Resource Management (EXPIRED)

MCC's Working Group“Scientific Assessments, Ethics, and Public Policy”(SEP) offers a Post-doc position (2016 – 2018) to foster the philosophical-ethical reflection on the (property) rights over and management of natural resources, in particular regarding land and forests in the context of global climate change. The successful candidate is expected to contribute prominently to the scientific output of the group, mostly in terms of peer-reviewed publications. Research questions may include, for example, whether these natural resources should be regarded as (global) commons and what this would more precisely imply for their appropriate management from a social welfare perspective.

Within a few years the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change(MCC) in Berlin has already established itself prominently in the climate policy research landscape, ranked as No. 2 of climate think tanks worldwide. MCC follows a unique research agenda that focusses on assessing the opportunities and risks of policy pathways regarding global commons, and their implications for sustainable development. MCC's research is driven by policy relevance and is largely interdisciplinary in nature. MCC is a joint initiative of the Mercator Foundation and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). Cooperation with high-profile international partner organizations provides a network of excellence.

Inspired inter alia by John Dewey’s philosophy, the working group SEP examines design options for integrated scientific assessment-making in the context of public policy processes, and in particular how ethical aspects and conflicting stakes can be treated appropriately in these assessments in the case of highly complex, disputed policy issues, such as, for instance, land use and forest management.

Required background and qualification

• Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in philosophy (or be close to completion at the time of application) and should particularly be trained in interdisciplinary-ethical argumentation or political philosophy. 
• A background in economics and/or public policy analysis would be an additional asset, but is not obligatory;
• The successful candidate is expected to conduct high-quality research publishable in reputable peer-reviewed journals, and is expected to seriously take an interest in public policy, particularly the management of natural resources such as forests and land;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English;
• Demonstrated ability to work in interdisciplinary research team, to conceptualize a broad and ambitious research agenda, to plan and execute specific research projects; to meet task deadlines and goals; and to conduct research independently and publish results in peer-reviewed academic journals;
• Contributions to enhancing the research profile of the working group; potentially taking over responsibilities of supervising PhD student (depending on funding, however); potentially contributing to acquire third-party funding.