Job description
The Institute for Industrial Production (IIP) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) invites applications for a doctoral research position within the international research training group C4LaNd: Competition for land - Tackling the climate and biodiversity crises through the food, energy and materials nexus. The position is located in Karlsruhe, Germany, at KIT-IIP and will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Frank Schultmann. This doctoral project is embedded in Cluster C3: Rethinking Rural Spaces and addresses a key challenge of the emerging bioeconomy: the increasing competition for land associated with the growing demand for biomass-based materials. Bio-based products such as wood-based construction materials, bioplastics and bio-based chemicals may contribute to climate-change mitigation by substituting fossil-based alternatives. At the same time, their expansion may intensify pressures on land, biodiversity and other ecosystem services, and may create new trade-offs with food production, renewable energy deployment and nature conservation.
The doctoral research will analyse, in a spatially explicit manner, how competing biomass-utilisation pathways shape biodiversity and climate outcomes, with the aim of developing robust decision-support tools for more sustainable bioeconomy strategies. Combining geographic information systems (GIS), scenario analysis and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), the project will assess under which ecological, economic and policy conditions material uses of biomass can contribute to climate mitigation while limiting adverse impacts on ecosystems and rural societies. The candidate will work with spatial datasets, develop and evaluate land-use and policy scenarios, and systematically assess trade-offs and co-benefits between biomass use, food production and conservation. The doctoral research will identify and compare alternative land-use configurations and biomass pathways, and derive implications for land-use governance, sustainability standards and strategic planning in the bioeconomy.
A particular strength of the position lies in its integration into the international and interdisciplinary C4LaNd environment. The project is closely connected to collaboration with the University of Melbourne, especially with research on participatory decision-making for multi-use rural land. Within the training group, doctoral researchers are expected to undertake a 12-month research stay at the partner institution and to contribute actively to the broader interdisciplinary research and training programme.
Starting date
1. October 2026
Personal qualification
Applicants should hold an excellent Master’s degree in a relevant field such as industrial ecology, business and environmental sciences, geography, environmental engineering, sustainability assessment, bioeconomy or a related discipline. A strong interest in interdisciplinary research on land use, climate change, biodiversity and sustainable value chains is essential. Experience with GIS, spatial data analysis, quantitative modelling or sustainability-assessment methods is highly desirable. Familiarity with MCDA, scenario analysis, land-use systems or bioeconomy research would be advantageous. Very good written and spoken English is required, as is the willingness to work in an international research environment, to complete a one-year research placement at the University of Melbourne, and to contribute actively to scientific publication and participation in international conferences and project-related dissemination activities.