Call for Nominations: Director (f/m/d) | Anthropocene Biosphere (inclusive Planetary Health) Full-time

Director at MPI-GEA (f/m/d)

The Max Planck Society is one of Europe's leading research organizations. The Society is planning to appoint a new Director at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (MPI-GEA) in Jena, Germany. To identify suitable candidates for this position, we are inviting nominations, including self-nominations. We seek a scholar that will pioneer high-impact research programs, defining new research avenues related to the Anthropocene Biosphere (inclusive Planetary Health) and lead a corresponding department at MPI-GEA.

The Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology is currently the only fully cross-sectional institute within the Society, carrying out transdisciplinary research into human-Earth system interactions from the deep past into the future. Combining fieldwork, laboratory analyses, and the latest modelling developments, the Institute examines the fundamental dynamics and feedbacks that have brought about the multiple crises of the Anthropocene – and possible transformative trajectories of the intertwined human-Earth system towards a safer and more just future.

The Institute explores themes such as Earth system dynamics, critical transitions and tipping points, the emergence of the technosphere, planetary urbanization, transformations of the global food system, material, energy, and information flows, as well as planetary biosphere dynamics, answering key questions including:

• How did humanity drive the emerging dynamics of the 'Anthropocene'?
• How do humans and the Earth system interact in terms of system boundaries, feedback loops, tipping dynamics, path dependencies, and structural barriers to sustainability, as well as synergies regarding long-term resilience?
• What are the associated risks and opportunities of building resilience, of inducing required societal change, and initiating regenerative future human-Earth system trajectories?

Director (m/f/d)

The Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (MPI-GEA) invites expressions of interest from outstanding scientists for the position of Director. A Max Planck Director at MPI-GEA pursues a bold long-term research agenda with a commitment to transdisciplinary and cross-departmental research into a series of Core Research themes. Applicants should have attained an internationally recognized distinction in areas relating to the Anthropocene Biosphere or Planetary Health, engaging with themes such as global human-biosphere modelling; interactions among climate change, anthropogenic activities, and biodiversity; or the drivers of disease spread in the Anthropocene. We welcome applications from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, with the main criteria for a directorship being scientific and scholarly excellence and an innovative and ambitious research program, rather than seniority or publication rankings.

We are looking for the most creative scientists worldwide who demonstrate academic leadership and mentorship at the highest level and standards. We offer an excellent international research environment, outstanding infrastructure, and generous long-term scientific funding. The Institute is part of the Max Planck Society, an independent non-governmental association dedicated to fundamental research in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

Application

Have we sparked your interest? Please submit your expression of interest using the link below. Expressions of interest will be held in strict confidence.

The Max Planck Society is committed to gender equality and diversity and actively supports the reconciliation of work and family life. We want to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented. The Max Planck Society has also set itself the goal of employing more persons with severe disabilities. We therefore encourage them to apply. We also welcome applications from all backgrounds.

We are looking forward to receiving your complete application documents until May, 13th via our application portal.

Contact

Prof. Dr. Ricarda Winkelmann Director, Department of Integrative Earth System Science Email: winkelmann-office@gea.mpg.de