The Faculty of Life Sciences seeks to fill the mentioned above professorship at the earliest opportunity.
Academic context
With this appointment, Leipzig University intends to further strengthen its research priorities strategically within its areas of excellence and potential. In addition, the Leipzig University’s Emerging Fields are to be further developed in terms of their scientific quality and originality. The professorship is expected to align academically with the research priorities of the Institute of Biology and to contribute to the establishment and deepening of collaborations with Leipzig Zoo, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, and other educational institutions.
Future Duties
A highly qualified and academically distinguished individual is sought who will represent the focus of the professorship – the study of human–animal relations – across its full breadth in both research and teaching, and further develop it in an interdisciplinary manner. The professorship will contribute to the relevant Bachelor’s, Master’s, and teacher training degree programs of the faculty and support interdisciplinary, research-based teaching in both German and English. A strong commitment to the further development of innovative teaching and learning formats is expected, particularly for the communication of animal- and human-related topics in an interdisciplinary context. The position also includes participation in academic self-governance.
A willingness to build bridges between empirical research, education, and society is also expected. In this context, the future postholder is expected to contribute to pre-service and in-service teacher education, science communication, as well as outreach and knowledge transfer activities, in order to strengthen dialogue between academia, educational institutions, zoological institutions, and the broader public.
Requirements
Established research foci in
• the investigation of the development of attitudes, emotions, and moral concepts toward animals in childhood and adolescence,
• the comparative study of cognitive and communicative processes in different animal species, as well as
• the conduct of research projects in the context of zoological institutions.
Required qualifications include interdisciplinary research experience at the interface of biology, psychology, and anthropology, evidenced by successful participation in and leadership of collaborative and joint research projects. Proven success in acquiring and conducting externally funded research projects is also expected, preferably within interdisciplinary research consortia.
In addition, willingness to integrate the professorship into a network of existing local and international collaborations and to develop this network actively is desirable. Methodologically, the candidate is expected to have sound expertise in the application and further development of innovative empirical methods within a mixed-methods approach. These include, in particular, behavioral observations and experimental studies involving humans and various animal species, with a focus on non-human primates, cross-cultural research using participatory methods, and technology-assisted measurement methods such as eye tracking and video analysis.
In addition, collaboration with zoological institutions and other educational institutions is required, as is experience in conducting relevant research projects that promote societal understanding of human-animal relations.
Proven experience in research with children and adolescents using child-centered methodological approaches, as well as in empirical research with various animal species, is also expected. In addition, openness to integrating ethical and societal perspectives into empirical research designs is required.
Candidates must have extensive experience in teacher training in the field of biology.
The job holder’s rights and obligations are regulated by the SächsHSG and the Saxon Service Regulations for Higher Education Institutions (HSDAVO). Applicants must meet the requirements of § 59 SächsHSG.
Research, teaching, transfer, infrastructure and administration require a diversity of perspectives. The university is therefore committed to diversity and equal opportunities. We welcome your application, regardless of gender, nationality, religion, cultural and social background, age or sexual orientation. The university aims to increase the proportion of women in academia and therefore expressly encourages qualified women to apply.
Severely disabled persons – or persons deemed legally equal to them under Book IX of the German Social Code – are encouraged to apply and will be given preference in the case of equal suitability. If you have any questions about accessibility or need assistance with this application process, please contact Leipzig University’s disability officers at: schwerbehindertenvertretung@uni-leipzig.de.
Please apply via Leipzig University’s recruitment portal.
Leipzig University
Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences
Professor Dr Irene Coin
