The University of Kassel is a modern and growing University with round about 22.000 students. The university’s wide range of expertise covers subjects in the natural, applied, cultural and social sciences.
In the Faculty “Organic Agricultural Sciences”, the following position is to be filled as of January 1, 2026 as part of a joint appointment with the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) based on the Jülich model:
W2 Professorship for “Co-designed Organic Vegetable Production”
| Application deadline: |
06.08.2025 |
| Date of hire: | 01.01.2026 |
| Vacancy number: |
38514 |
The professorship is associated with a working group leadership at the ZALF within the newly established "Innovation Centre for Agricultural System Transformation (IAT)". The IAT is a permanent expansion of the ZALF with five living labs in Germany. The professorship is organizationally located at the ZALF. Within the University of Kassel, the professorship is assigned to the Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences and is located at the new ZALF location in Witzenhausen. For further information, please see https://www.zalf.de/en/struktur/iat/Pages/default.aspx.
We are looking for a person with outstanding international scientific credentials who is able to integrate and communicate, to represent the field of “Co-designed Organic Vegetable Production” in research and teaching and thus contribute to consolidating the profile of organic agricultural science in a national and international context.
Vegetable growing plays a key role in the sustainable transformation of agriculture towards an increasingly regional supply and a reduction of the global ecological footprint. The aim of the professorship is to contribute to the sustainable intensification of organic agriculture and to promote the development of long-term stable and productive organic vegetable cultivation systems using the living lab approach.
In research, the professorship focuses on experimental research and co-design of cultivation systems for climate-resilient and sustainable vegetable cultivation.
This requires the adaptation of process engineering and the integration of vegetable and arable farming to enable broad crop rotations with crops that are not closely related to vegetables. Experiments at the research station, as well as on-farm trials will be important building blocks for this. The cultivation systems will be developed, tested and evaluated in a transdisciplinary mode together with farmers and other non-scientific actors.
Relevant topics are
- Crop rotation, adapted soil tillage, fertilization and water management
- Pest, disease and weed management, including the support of beneficial insects
- Improved genetic resources and mixtures to increase the performance and resilience
- Integrating vegetable cultivation into arable, viticulture, energy or other production systems
- Analysis of production systems in different value chains: from CSA to large-scale and including urban vegetable production systems
The teaching obligation is two hours per week during lecture times in the subject of organic vegetable production in the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs at the Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences at the University of Kassel.
Applicants must have a completed doctorate as well as a habilitation or equivalent scientific achievements with a focus on vegetable production systems. Relevant international peer-reviewed publications in leading journals on at least two of the above-mentioned topics as well as experience in the independent acquisition and implementation of third-party funded projects are expected. Didactic competence, teaching experience and the willingness to research and teach in German and English are prerequisites, as well as the willingness to participate in university self-administration. Experiences in inter- and transdisciplinary research cooperation and willingness to engage in them is required. A documented interest in research questions in the context of organic agriculture is an advantage.
Applicants are requested to submit the following documents: Curriculum vitae, list of publications, proof of teaching experience and teaching evaluations as well as experience in the acquisition and/or implementation of third-party funded projects (with identification of the respective own contribution), a method-oriented research concept (max. 3 pages) for co-designed vegetable cultivation, copies of certificates and documents.
The prerequisites for employment and performance requirements are determined by §§ 67, 68 of the Higher Education Act of the Federal State of Hesse (HessHG).
If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Backes at gunter.backes(at)uni-kassel.de and Prof. Dr. Bellingrath-Kimura, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin und ZALF (Sonoko.Bellingrath-Kimura(at)zalf.de).
The application documents will also be made available to the Executive Board and the Board of Trustees of the ZALF in the sense of a joint call for applications and appointment, and in addition to university representatives, ZALF representatives will take part in the interviews and lectures in the selection process.
In the event of any differences between the German and English versions of this call for application, the German wording is legally binding.
For more job offers visit stellen.uni-kassel.de
Please send your application with the usual informative documents, stating the reference number the subject line, via the online form. We have complied further information for you in our FAQ. The protection of your personal information is very important to us, so we will handle your personal information with care. By your application, you allow us the storage and use in the sense of the Hessian Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act. You can object to this at any time. Your personal data will be deleted.
Information according to Art. 13 DSGVO for the application process at the University of Kassel can be found at:
https://www.uni-kassel.de/uni/datenschutz/
Information and FAQ about applying for a job offer:
The University of Kassel is very interested in the professional satisfaction of its employees. It is distinguished as a family-friendly university and, in the interests of equal opportunities, strives to offer everyone the same opportunities for development and to counteract existing disadvantages. It promotes the Family Welcome Service and also the Dual Career Service for positions that are scientifically and academically filled. One of the strategic goals of the University of Kassel is to significantly increase the proportion of women in research and teaching. Applications from women are therefore particularly welcome. Seriously handicapped and equivalent applicants are given preference if they have the same suitability, qualifications and professional performance.