PhD and Postdoc positions (m/f/d) in Food Policy and Food Systems Research

The University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented university with an internationally competitive and interdisciplinary profile in research and teaching. The University’s newly established Chair of Public Health Nutrition is advertising the following positions

The production and consumption of food strongly impacts human health and wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare. Unhealthy diets are the most important preventable risk factor for disease and premature death, and the food system is the most important driver of global environmental change. Effective food policies that create food environments supportive of healthy and sustainable diets on a population level are crucial for progress on these issues. The Chair of Public Health Nutrition at the University of Bayreuth addresses this challenge through policy-focused effectiveness and implementation research on the regional, national and international level, working with a strong network of partners in research, policy and practice.

Your profile

We are looking for excellent, highly motivated early-career researchers with the following qualifications:

• A master’s degree or PhD in public health, public policy, political science, nutrition, medicine and/or a related discipline.
• Experience with relevant research methods, ideally including both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• A strong interest in interdisciplinary food policy and food systems research, including aspects of health, sustainability and/or animal welfare.
• Passion for research with policy impact.
• Full professional proficiency in English. Knowledge of German is of advantage, but not a prerequisite.
• The ability to work independently in international and interdisciplinary teams, and to take responsibility for complex and demanding tasks.

Our offer

The advertised positions offer excellent opportunities for impact by addressing key global challenges through state-of-the-art research, teaching, and societal outreach. You will have a responsible position in a supportive, motivating and inspiring work environment. We are a friendly, open-minded, dynamic and international team with flat hierarchies, offering excellent opportunities for personal and professional development. We are passionate about our work and strive for excellence in what we do, while being considerate of personal circumstances and the importance of balance between work and other pursuits of life.

The Chair of Public Health Nutrition is based at the newly established Faculty of Life Sciences of the University of Bayreuth (Campus Kulmbach) in the beautiful Upper Franconia region in Bavaria, Germany. The salary is based on the German public sector salary scale TV-L E13. A structured PhD program is offered by the graduate school of the University of Bayreuth. Part-time and hybrid working arrangements are possible, but part-time physical presence on campus is required.

Please apply online via the online application portal of the University of Bayreuth selecting “PhD-Postdoc-PHN” from the drop-down menu. Please include a cover letter, a full CV (including grades), degree certificates, transcripts of records, references from past employers and/or supervisors, at least one representative writing sample (e.g. your Master thesis), and contact information of at least two referees. The documents will be deleted after the position has been filled in accordance with data protection requirements.

To ensure that your application receives full consideration, please apply by August 10^th, 2025. Late applications may be considered on a rolling basis.

The University of Bayreuth values the diversity of its employees and is explicitly committed to the goal of gender equality. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with children are very welcome. Persons with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if equally qualified.

Please feel free to contact Prof. Dr Peter von Philipsborn (Peter.Philipsborn@uni-bayreuth.de) for further information on the positions. For procedural or technical questions, please reach out to Christine Williams (Christine.Williams@uni-bayreuth.de). For further information on the Chair, please visit www.phn.uni-bayreuth.de.