The Institute of Sea Fisheries of the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forests and Fisheries, in Bremerhaven is looking for the following temporary full time position starting 01.09.2025 limited until 31.08.2028, subject to funding approval, a

Scientist (f/m/d)

(Agricultural, environmental, bioeconomy, fisheries, sustainability sciences, economic geography, resource management or related disciplines)

for collaboration on the third-party funded project ,,PassFisch’’.

The research project PassFisch investigates the ecological and economic potential of passive fisheries targeting brown crab (Cancer pagurus) and European lobster (Homarus gammarus) in the southern North Sea. Building on the current state of knowledge, both survey-based and fishery-dependent monitoring approaches will be developed to establish a robust basis for stock assessment and management. In collaboration with partners from the fisheries sector, the project will examine whether a long-term sustainable use of these resources is feasible and whether they can represent an economically viable alternative to traditional coastal fishing activities. In addition to established export markets, the project also aims to explore the development of regional value chains in order to improve the economic viability and attractiveness of a transition to passive fishing methods.

The tasks include in particular

• Economic analysis of passive fisheries: Development and evaluation of typical business models (e.g. costs, revenues, investments, labor requirements) in close cooperation with fisheries enterprises, based on the “Typical Farm” approach
• Scenario-based profitability assessments: Conducting profitability calculations under varying framework conditions (e.g. energy prices, gear costs, certification) to evaluate viability and transition options
• Market and value chain analysis: Examination of existing marketing channels, identification of new market potentials, and assessment of economic opportunities and barriers along the value chain

Your professional requirements:

• Completed university degree or PhD in agricultural economics, fisheries science, environmental economics, sustainability sciences, economic geography, bioeconomy, resource management, or a related discipline
• Experience in the economic assessment of agricultural or fisheries enterprises, e.g. through the application of comparative farm models, scenario analyses, or cost-benefit evaluations
• Knowledge of value chain and market structure analysis, ideally in the field of fisheries, aquaculture, or other bio-based sectors
• Proficient in qualitative and quantitative research methods, such as conducting and analyzing interviews, focus groups, market assessments, or economic modelling
• Understanding of transformation processes in the fisheries or agricultural sector, particularly with regard to sustainable production and marketing approaches
• Experience in working with practitioners and stakeholders, such as fisheries enterprises, associations, the trade sector, public administration, or NGOs
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both German and English, for preparing scientific and practice-oriented texts and for communication within the project context

Your personal requirements:

• Strong analytical skills for systematically understanding complex economic interrelationships and deriving well-founded conclusions
• Independent, structured, and goal-oriented working style, particularly in planning, conducting, and evaluating empirical research
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills for interdisciplinary collaboration within the project team and interaction with practitioners and project partners
• Interest in applied research and willingness to translate scientific findings into practical applications
• Confident and professional demeanor when engaging with external stakeholders, e.g. in workshops, interviews, or during the presentation of results to policymakers, administrators, and fisheries enterprises
• Flexibility and strong organizational skills for coordinating project tasks and contributing to events and workshop activities
• Resilience and a high sense of responsibility, especially when handling multiple tasks and during critical project phases

Our offer:

• Security and benefits: collectively agreed, fixed-term employment with attractive social benefits (e.g., company pension scheme, annual one-off payment, capital-forming benefits) upon fulfilment of the collective agreement and personal requirements according to pay group 13 TVöD
• Responsibility and a sense of purpose: responsible work in a dedicated team, involvement in a dynamic, interdisciplinary research institute and proximity to current policy and practice-relevant topics
• Flexibility and work-life balance: flexible working time models, fundamental possibility of part-time employment as well as mobile working and teleworking, certified employer berufundfamilie audit with a wide range of offers for reconciling work and life phases
• Prospects: further training opportunities for the area of responsibility and individual development
• Health: company health management and preventative healthcare programmes
• Mobility: JobTicket, public transport connections, free parking spaces and the option of using e-charging stations

The Thünen Institute promotes professional equality between women and men and therefore expressly welcomes applications from women.

We live a diverse and cosmopolitan coexistence. The Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute is committed to inclusion. Applications from people with severe disabilities are therefore expressly encouraged. They will be given preferential consideration in the selection process. Please enclose proof of severe disability or equal status with your application.

If you have an international degree, please also enclose a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. If you do not yet have a certificate evaluation, you must apply for one if your application is successful. You can find further information at https://zab.kmk.org/de/zeugnisbewertung (https://zab.kmk.org/de/zeugnisbewertung) .

If you have technical queries, please contact Dr. Sarah Simons (sarah.simons@thuenen.de/ 0471 - 94460 -387).

Please send your electronic application (as a single PDF document), including a letter of motivation, a tabular curriculum vitae (providing an overview of your educational and professional background), and copies of your certificates and references quoting the reference „ 2025-114-SF “, by 20.06.2025 ,to

sf-bewerbungen@thuenen.de (mailto:sf-bewerbungen@thuenen.de)

Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut

Institut für Seefischerei

Herwigstrasse 31, 27572 Bremerhaven

Germany

Information in accordance with Article 13 DSGVO on the collection of personal data can be found at www.thuenen.de/de/thuenen-institut/karriere.

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