W2 Professorship (m/w/d) for "Co-development of livestock-based mixed cropping systems"

Universität Kassel

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:

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.

The functional coupling of arable farming, grassland and livestock production systems plays a key role in circular organic agricultural systems. It facilitates the utilisation of ecological processes for sustainable intensification and aims to simultaneously improve animal welfare, biodiversity and soil health in the sense of a one-health approach.
The aim of the professorship is to develop solutions for innovative mixed crop systems in a predominantly transdisciplinary research mode in living labs, which leverage synergies for crop production and livestock systems and promote further ecological and cultural functions of agricultural landscapes. The research pursues a holistic and systemic approach and within in the framework of the following topics:

• Design of mixed cropping systems for optimized resource use
• Increasing the feed value of forage crops
• Integration of landscape design measures to promote animal welfare, the microclimate and phytosanitary functions for crop production
• Development of innovative forms of livestock husbandry to simultaneously improve animal welfare, soil health and biodiversity
• Options for livestock-based mixed farming systems for new value creation networks and diversification of farm structures
• Linking living lab-based, transdisciplinary research approaches with classic, standardized field, laboratory and feeding trials
• Innovative fertilizer management in mixed cropping systems
• Research into the interactions of livestock, plants and insects for resilient agricultural systems

The research will mainly take place in the living labs of the IAT in Hessen and Brandenburg, Germany, whereby national and international cooperation is also highly welcome for questions of generalization and transferability of research results to other contexts.

The teaching commitment is two hours per semester week within the framework of the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs of the Department of Organic Agricultural Sciences at the University of Kassel.

We are looking for a person with good integration and communication skills and excellent international scientific credentials to represent the field of “Co-development of livestock-based mixed cropping systems” in research and teaching.

Applicants must have a habilitation or additional scientific achievements and have a broad range of expertise and proven transdisciplinary research experience in the profile of the professorship within the scope of the above-mentioned topics. Excellent knowledge of the specifics of organic agriculture and crop production on livestock farms and relevant projects already carried out are an advantage. Relevant international peer-reviewed publications in leading journals in the field of livestock-based mixed crop systems as well as experience in the independent acquisition and implementation of third-party funded projects are expected. University didactic competence, teaching experience and the willingness to teach in German and English are required, as well as the willingness to participate in university self-administration in particular for the organization of the cooperation between IAT and the University of Kassel.

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-development of livestock-based mixed cropping systems, 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. Fenja Klevenhusen (fenja.klevenhusen@uni-kassel.de) and Prof. Dr. Katharina Helming, (khelming@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.

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.

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Information and FAQ about applying for a job offer:
https://www.uni-kassel.de/uni/universitaet/stellenangebote/hinweise-und-faq-zur-bewerbung-auf-ein-stellenangebot

Online application