University of Bonn FoodDiverse CRC 1780 Opens 32 Fully Funded Doctoral and Postdoctoral Research Positions in Sustainable Food Systems (Germany & Ghana, 2026)
The Center for Development Research (ZEF) at University of Bonn has officially announced an exciting international research opportunity under the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1780 titled “Food System Diversification for Sustainable Nutrition (FoodDiverse)”. Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), this large-scale research initiative is inviting applications for 24 doctoral researcher positions and 8 postdoctoral researcher positions in the broad and rapidly growing field of sustainable food systems.
This prestigious research program offers scholars the opportunity to contribute to globally relevant research focused on food system transformation, environmental sustainability, human nutrition, public health, agricultural diversification, and resilience. The program will operate through collaborative interdisciplinary projects conducted in Germany and Ghana in partnership with the University of Ghana.
Applications are open until 14 June 2026.
About the CRC 1780 FoodDiverse Program
The CRC 1780 FoodDiverse initiative is a multidisciplinary research collaboration designed to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges surrounding food systems, environmental sustainability, nutrition, and human wellbeing.
The project is coordinated by:
- Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim (Agricultural Economics)
- Vice-Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Ute Nöthlings (Nutrition Epidemiology)
The initiative recognizes that current global food systems are increasingly unsustainable. Across many countries, unhealthy diets and nutrition-related diseases continue to rise, while agricultural production contributes significantly to environmental degradation. Climate and environmental changes are also making it more difficult to achieve food security, healthy nutrition, and equitable development.
To address these issues, the CRC focuses on one major solution pathway: food system diversification.
What Is Food System Diversification?
Food system diversification refers to increasing diversity across multiple dimensions of the food system, including:
- Agricultural fields
- Farms and farming landscapes
- Crop systems
- Markets and trade systems
- Diets and food consumption patterns
- Food supply sources
Researchers believe diversification may generate several important benefits, such as:
- Improved environmental sustainability
- Better nutrition and healthier diets
- Disease prevention
- Enhanced agricultural productivity
- Greater resilience against climate and economic shocks
- Increased ecosystem biodiversity
However, the CRC also acknowledges that diversification may come with economic, environmental, or social costs depending on the context, scale, and implementation approach.
Main Research Questions of the CRC
The FoodDiverse CRC seeks to answer two major research questions:
1. How do different forms of food system diversification affect planetary health?
This includes studying:
- Human health and wellbeing
- Nutrition outcomes
- Environmental sustainability
- Ecosystem health
- Agricultural resilience
2. What levels of diversification are most beneficial, and how can they be achieved?
Researchers will examine:
- Optimal diversification levels
- Policy frameworks
- Behavioral changes
- Agricultural systems
- Market and trade structures
- Dietary patterns
Research Locations and Methodology
The CRC’s research activities will be conducted primarily in:
- Germany
- Ghana
The program combines diverse scientific methods and data sources, including:
- Farm-level data
- Household surveys
- Individual nutrition studies
- Remote sensing technologies
- Regional and global modeling
- Biodiversity analysis
- Economic modeling
- Public health and nutrition research
The interdisciplinary approach makes this initiative particularly valuable for researchers interested in combining agriculture, economics, environmental science, nutrition, public health, and sustainability studies.
Available Research Projects Under CRC 1780
Applicants can apply to a maximum of three preferred projects.
Project Areas Include:
Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability Projects
- Project A01: Soil health, biodiversity, and human health
- Project A02: Diversification scales for resilient cropping systems
- Project A03: Agricultural diversification impacts on biodiversity
- Project A04: Agroforestry as a diversification strategy
- Project A05: Farm production diversity and efficiency
- Project A06: Socioeconomic and environmental impacts of crop diversification
Food Systems, Markets, and Policy Projects
- Project B01: Agricultural diversity, markets, and dietary diversity
- Project B02: Food policy and agri-environmental effects
- Project B03: Trade diversity and resilience to shocks
- Project B04: Diversified food systems and global sustainability
- Project B05: Cross-level effects of food system diversification
Nutrition and Human Health Projects
- Project C01: Behavioral strategies for food diversification
- Project C02: Dietary diversity and nutrition
- Project C03: Metabolic health in early life stages
- Project C04: Adult dietary diversity and metabolic health
- Project C05: Personalized dietary diversification
- Project C06: Sustainability of diversified diets
Infrastructure and Coordination Projects
- Project Z01: Central CRC coordination
- Project Z02: Survey and cohort studies
- Project INF: Data infrastructure and services
- Project IRTG: Integrated Research Training Group
Number of Positions Available
The CRC 1780 FoodDiverse program is offering:
- 24 Doctoral Researcher Positions
- 8 Postdoctoral Researcher Positions
These positions are designed for highly motivated researchers interested in contributing to international sustainability and food systems research.
Contract Duration and Funding Details
All selected candidates will receive:
- Fixed-term contracts for 3 years
- Possible extension into a fourth year
- Additional extensions for postdoctoral researchers depending on second-phase funding approval by DFG
Employment Conditions
- Start Date: 1 October 2026 (or earlier where applicable)
- Salary Structure:
- Doctoral researchers: TV-L 13 (65%)
- Postdoctoral researchers: TV-L 13 (100%)
Germany’s TV-L pay structure is a respected public-sector salary framework that includes social benefits and employment protections.
Required Application Documents
Applicants should prepare the following PDF documents before applying:
Mandatory Documents
1. Motivation Letter
The letter should explain:
- Your interest in the CRC
- Your academic background
- Why you are interested in the selected projects
- Your research goals
Applicants may select up to three projects in order of preference.
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Postdoctoral applicants should include:
- Publication list
- Research achievements
- Academic experience
3. Academic Certificates and Transcripts
Required:
- Master’s degree documents
- Doctoral degree documents (for postdoctoral applicants)
4. Writing Sample
- Doctoral applicants: Master’s thesis
- Postdoctoral applicants: Recent research article
5. Academic References
Applicants must provide:
- Names of two academic referees
- Contact details
Why This Opportunity Is Important
This CRC offers several advantages for early-career researchers:
Key Benefits
- Fully funded research employment
- International collaborative research environment
- Access to interdisciplinary expertise
- Research experience in Germany and Ghana
- Opportunity to work on globally relevant sustainability issues
- Strong academic networking opportunities
- Potential long-term academic career development
- Involvement in cutting-edge food systems research
The program is particularly beneficial for researchers seeking careers in:
- Sustainability science
- Agricultural economics
- Nutrition and public health
- Environmental policy
- Climate resilience
- Development studies
- Global food systems
Diversity and Inclusion Statement
The organizers emphasize their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Applications are welcomed from individuals of all backgrounds regardless of:
- Origin
- Gender
- Age
- Disability
- Religion
- Sexual orientation
- Cultural background
Application Deadline
Deadline: 14 June 2026
Interested candidates are encouraged to prepare their materials early and carefully align their application with the specific CRC projects of interest.
Official Application Portal
Applications must be submitted online through the official University of Bonn portal:
About ZEF Center for Development Research
The ZEF Center for Development Research is internationally recognized for research focused on development, sustainability, food systems, environmental change, and global policy solutions.
The CRC 1780 FoodDiverse initiative further strengthens ZEF’s leadership in interdisciplinary sustainability and development research.
For more information about this opportunity visit here.
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