The National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) North-South is an international consortium of research partners in the North and the South focusing on mitigation of syndromes of global change. The leading house of the NCCR North-South, the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) at the Institute of Geography of the University of Bern (Switzerland), is seeking to fill the following position:

Postdoc and Co-Leader of a Research Project (50%)

Job description:
The NCCR North-South recently launched 15 interdisciplinary research projects with a duration of up to 4 years. Each research project will work in at least 2 partnership regions of the NCCR North-South, using a comparative approach. Research projects are mixed groups of researchers from different disciplines, led by a team of post-doctoral researchers from the North and the South.

For a research project active in Bolivia, Cuba, Mexico and Peru (i.e. Central America and South America) we are seeking to employ a postdoctoral researcher and co-leader. The project is entitled ‘The transformation of multifunctional agrarian systems in Latin America’. The expansion of export-oriented industrial agriculture is a great challenge to the existing multifunctional agrarian systems in Latin America. Public policies in the different Latin American countries reflect varying degrees of state intervention in large-scale as well as small-scale agrarian systems. The main objective of this project is to better understand – and act upon – the governance of natural resources and bio-cultural diversity in the context of the transformation of multifunctional agrarian systems.

We offer:
• Collaboration in a small dynamic and multi-disciplinary research team
• A stimulating working environment in a multi-national and multi-cultural context at the interface of academic research and development cooperation
• Remuneration according to the standards of the NCCR North-South

We require:
• PhD degree
• South American nationality; age under 40 years
• Proven track record in relevant research fields, and interest in development cooperation
• A dynamic and creative individual with good interpersonal, managerial and communication skills; experience in a leadership position would be an asset
• Mother tongue Spanish with good skills in written and spoken English
• Employment by or formal affiliation with a local research institution, preferably in Bolivia or Peru

The NCCR North-South gives preference to well-qualified female applicants in cases of comparable qualifications and suitability. The job will be based in Bolivia or in Peru.

Starting date: 1^st October 2009 or by agreement.

Applications, including CV, references, full details of qualification and experience, e-mail address and a passport-size photo should be forwarded by 20 August 2009 to:

NCCR North-South,
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE),
Institute of Geography,
Hallerstrasse 10, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.

Contacts:
Phone: +41 31 631 52 72
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.north-south.unibe.ch
Short-listed applicants will be interviewed in Cochabamba or La Paz between 25 and 27 August 2009.