Postdoctoral Research Fellow (m/f/d) in Economics or Political Science

The GIGA is partner of the University of Hamburg’s Cluster of Excellence “Climate, Climatic Change, and Society” (CLICCS) that investigates climate dynamics and climate-related social dynamics, as well as the interactions between the two.

Within CLICCS, subject to final funding approval, the GIGA seeks to appoint a

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (m/f/d) in Economics or Political Science

The Research Fellow will work on a project within CLICCS on “Renewables and carbon offsets in the Global South: Impacts and social conflict” that addresses the following research questions: What are the socioeconomic and distributional impacts of renewable energy expansion and land-based carbon offsets in the Global South and do these impacts lead to new or reinforce existing social conflicts? The project’s empirical core will be a multi-wave household panel survey that is planned to be implemented in three different sites in Sub-Saharan Africa. We will hence mainly but not exclusively rely on quantitative data and methods.

Applications are invited for a full-time position, with an initial contract of three years and the possibility of extension. The successful applicant should start earliest on February 1, 2026. The position is limited in duration in accordance with Article 2 Section 2 of the WissZeitVG (Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act). The salary is commensurate with EG 13 TV-AVH / TVöD.

The successful candidate will become member of GIGA Research Programmme on “Globalisation and Development” and the GIGA Institute for African Affairs. The candidate is expected to conduct excellent research with real world relevance and, accordingly, to participate in knowledge exchange and outreach activities (media engagement, policy advisory activities). There are no teaching obligations for this position, but it will be possible to teach at one of GIGA’s partner universities.

Mandatory qualifications:

• A doctoral degree (or advanced PhD studies) in Economics or Political Science.

• Emerging track record in top general economics, political science or field journals on the GIGA study regions.

• Proven proficiency of state-of-the-art quantitative methods.

• Experience in quantitative data collection in the GIGA study regions (ideally in Sub-Sahara Africa).

• Fluency in English.

Desired qualifications:

• Previous work on the economics of climate change, renewable energy, carbon-offsets, social conflict, or other issues relevant to the project.

• Experience with, or interest in, policy exchange and knowledge transfer activities.

• Fluency in German.

Part-time options will be considered, if so desired by the successful candidate. Diversity and the reconciliation of work and family life are of great importance to the institute. The GIGA promotes the equality of all genders. Additionally, we actively encourage applications from persons with disabilities.

Please fill out the GIGA application form and send it with your full application (Ref.-No. GIGA-25-10) including relevant supporting documentation (short cover letter, CV (max. 3 pages), list of publications (max. 2 pages), research outline (optional, max. 2 pages, based on the information in this announcement), other credentials/diplomas/certificates (max. 3 pages)) as one document to the below address. Please also provide two work samples as separate PDFs. Recommendation letters are optional and should be sent directly to the below email address indicating the candidate’s name and the applications reference number in the subject line.

German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) Neuer Jungfernstieg 21, 20354 Hamburg, Germany Email: [email protected] (email applications are particularly welcome).

Screening of applications will begin on 1 December 2025.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Jann Lay.