Assistant Professor in Management of Biobased Value Chains in Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg – Germany

Summary

Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg is seeking an Assistant Professor (W1 Tenure Track W2) in Management of Biobased Value Chains within the Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences. The position, to be filled on April 1, 2027, targets early career researchers with an excellent PhD in agricultural economics or related fields. The role involves research and teaching focused on demand-oriented management of biobased value chains, covering topics like sustainable agriculture, bioeconomy, and circular economy. The successful candidate will initially be appointed for three years, with a possible extension for another three years after a positive interim evaluation. A positive tenure evaluation leads to a permanent W2 professorship. Applicants must demonstrate independent scientific publishing, teaching experience, and the ability to teach in both German and English. The application deadline is October 18, 2026, and submissions are exclusively electronic via the university's appointments portal.

Key Facts

Department	Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät III – Institut für Agrar- und Ernährungswissenschaften IAEW – Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences – Faculty Natural Sciences III – Department Agricultural and Food Economics – Agrarökonomie – Faculty III
Position Type	Assistant Professor
Discipline	Agricultural Economics
Research Area	Management of biobased value chains, sustainable agriculture, bioeconomy, circular economy, cascading use of plant and animal products, substitution of fossil raw materials, digitalized and automated business processes, digital platform-based transactions, value chain, business model, risk management, resilience to volatile environmental influences, relationship marketing, quality management, corporate social responsibility, consumer and societal acceptance of business models, positive externalities, quantitative and qualitative methods of business analysis and planning, agricultural economic modeling, Life-Cycle-Assessment (LCA), sustainability metrics, environmental impact assessment, demand-oriented management of biobased value chains, socio-economic agricultural systems, coupled plant and animal production, replacement of fossil raw materials, environmental impact, transformation, sustainability, agri-environmental system, business management control and design logic.
Degree Required	PhD in agricultural economics or adjacent disciplines with an excellent doctorate
Experience	Experience in independent scientific publishing with international publications. Experience in acquiring third-party funding is advantageous. Experience in teaching and supervising academic theses is expected. Readiness and ability to teach in German and English are required. Experience in further developing and conceptualizing study programs is desired. Cooperative and team-oriented work, strong communication skills, participation in academic self-administration, and willingness to take on leadership responsibility are also expected.
Salary	W1 to W2 German professor salary
Contract Duration	Temporary for three years, with a possible extension for another three years after a positive interim evaluation. Upon positive tenure evaluation, conversion to a permanent W2 professorship without re-advertisement, provided general civil service requirements are met, or alternatively, assumption of an indefinite private-law employment relationship.
Language	German and English
Deadline	2026-10-18
Employer Address	Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät III, Institut für Agrar- und Ernährungswissenschaften IAEW, Germany – Halle-Wittenberg – Halle Saale – Saxony-Anhalt – Germany
Employer Contact	Prof Dr Jan-Henning Feil, [email protected], Tel +49 345 55 22361; Dean Natural Science Faculty III Prof Dr Matthias Müller-Hannemann, [email protected]

About the Project

The professorship focuses on the cross-value chain investigation of the consequences of innovations for companies, end-consumers, and the agri-environmental system, always from a business management control and design perspective. Key research contexts include new customer-oriented business models, risk management and resilience of companies in the face of volatile environmental influences, relationship marketing, cross-level quality management, corporate social responsibility, consumer and societal acceptance of business models, and the promotion of positive externalities. The research will utilize both quantitative and qualitative methods of business analysis and planning, agricultural economic modeling, Life-Cycle-Assessment (LCA), sustainability metrics, and environmental impact assessment. The research orientation offers diverse cooperation opportunities with other professorships within the institute and faculty, particularly in areas like coupled plant and animal production to replace fossil raw materials or assess environmental impacts, and connections to existing and future interdisciplinary collaborative projects focusing on innovations and the design of socio-economic agricultural systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research and teaching in demand-oriented management of biobased value chains.
• Represent the field in its entire breadth in research and teaching after tenure track.
• Contribute to research output and third-party funding acquisition within the Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences (IAEW).
• Teach management in Bachelor's and Master's programs, including value chain management, marketing, and corporate social responsibility.
• Supervise scientific theses.
• Engage in innovative teaching and contribute to the further development and conceptualization of study programs.
• Participate in academic self-administration.
• Be willing to assume leadership responsibility at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and actively develop in this regard.

Required Skills

• In-depth knowledge and an outstanding doctorate in agricultural economics or adjacent disciplines.
• Proven experience in independent scientific publishing with internationally relevant publications.
• Experience in teaching and supervising academic theses.
• Readiness and ability to teach in German and English.
• Cooperative and team-oriented working style.
• Strong communication skills.
• Willingness to participate in academic self-administration.
• Readiness to assume leadership responsibility at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and actively develop in this regard.

Who Should Apply

This position is suitable for early career researchers with an excellent PhD in agricultural economics or related disciplines. Candidates should have a strong research focus on demand-oriented management of biobased value chains, demonstrated experience in independent scientific publishing, and a willingness to engage in innovative teaching in both German and English. Experience in acquiring third-party funding and in developing study programs is advantageous. The role requires a cooperative and team-oriented approach, strong communication skills, and a readiness to participate in academic self-administration and leadership responsibilities.

Benefits

• Long-term career prospects through a tenure track to a permanent W2 professorship.
• Opportunity for early career independence.
• Support for work-life balance as a certified family-friendly university.
• Diverse cooperation opportunities with other professorships and interdisciplinary projects.
• Integration into the university's profile lines, especially transformation and sustainability.

About the Employer

Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg is a certified family-friendly university since 2009. It pursues the goal of enabling early career researchers with excellent prospects to achieve independence and offering them long-term career perspectives through tenure track professorships. The university's profile lines include transformation and sustainability. It fosters cooperation with institutions like the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the starting date for this position?

The position is to be filled on April 1, 2027.

What is the initial contract duration?

The initial contract is for three years, with a possible extension for another three years after a positive interim evaluation.

What is the required academic qualification for applicants?

Applicants must hold a PhD in agricultural economics or adjacent disciplines with an excellent doctorate.

Are there language requirements for teaching?

Yes, readiness and ability to teach in both German and English are required.

How does the tenure track process work?

After a positive interim evaluation, the contract is extended for another three years. A positive tenure evaluation leads to conversion into a permanent W2 professorship without re-advertisement.

Where can I find more information about the application process?

Applications must be submitted electronically via the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg's appointments portal at https://berufungsportal.uni-halle.de/.