IDOS Doctoral Researcher Position 2026: Paid PhD in Germany on Food Systems and Sustainability (€40,000–€58,000)

This is not a scholarship. It is a job.

The German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) in Bonn is offering a salaried doctoral researcher position, a German public sector employment contract with full benefits, for a PhD candidate to conduct research on food system diversification, plant-based nutrition, and sustainable consumption behaviour in Ghana and Germany.

The salary range is €40,000–€58,000 gross per year at 65% part-time (full-time equivalent: approximately €61,500–€89,000). You work 25.4 hours per week, receive pension contributions, up to 36 days of annual leave, subsidised public transport, remote working options, and full German employment law protections — while completing your PhD.

The application deadline is 14 June 2026 at 23:59 CET.

What Is IDOS?

The German Institute of Development and Sustainability is one of Germany’s most respected applied research institutions, located in Bonn — the former federal capital and global hub of UN agencies and international development organisations. IDOS conducts research at the intersection of development policy and sustainability, advises governments and international organisations, and trains the next generation of development researchers through its structured dual PhD programme.

Bonn itself is an exceptionally good base for a development-focused researcher. It is home to the UN Climate Secretariat, the UN Volunteers programme, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and dozens of other international organisations. The professional network accessible from Bonn is unique in the German research landscape.

The Research: FoodDiverse

The position sits within a major DFG (German Research Foundation) funded Collaborative Research Centre (CRC 1780) called FoodDiverse: Food System Diversification for Sustainable Nutrition — a large-scale interdisciplinary consortium bringing together the University of Bonn and IDOS to study how food system diversification at various levels (agriculture, markets, diets) relates to planetary health, simultaneously in Germany and Ghana.

Your specific sub-project focuses on “Behavioural Strategies to Diversify Food Consumption” — and precisely the work package on “Discourse Analysis and Policy Options.”

Your doctoral research will involve:

• Empirical research in both Ghana and Germany on plant-based protein intake across different social groups
• Discourse and policy analysis around transformational consumption behaviour — how governments, institutions, and communities talk about and shape dietary change
• Qualitative and ethnographic social research methodology — fieldwork, interviews, discourse analysis

Your PhD supervisors are Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge (IDOS Director and University of Bonn), Jun.-Prof. Dr. Dominic Lemken, and Prof. Dr. Monika Hartmann. Your degree is awarded by the University of Bonn, Faculty of Social Sciences.

The IDOS Dual PhD Programme

IDOS does not leave doctoral researchers to figure things out alone. The structured dual programme combines:

• Group mentoring and training activities — regular workshops with internationally recognised researchers, conference opportunities, and international research stays
• Peer mentoring — self-organised support among the IDOS doctoral cohort
• One-on-one supervision — direct mentorship from your supervisors
• Policy engagement — exposure to how research translates into real policy advice, giving you a professional dimension that purely academic PhDs rarely provide

At least 50% of your working time is dedicated exclusively to your dissertation — meaning the employment component does not crowd out the research.

The Full Employment Package

Who Should Apply

Essential:

• Master’s degree in social sciences (Human Geography, Sociology, Political Sciences, Anthropology) or Agricultural/Nutrition Sciences
• Demonstrated experience with qualitative and ethnographic social research methods
• Strong motivation to complete a PhD
• Strong written and spoken English
• Willingness to travel, including fieldwork in tropical climate conditions (Ghana)
• Valid Anabin recognition documentation for foreign degrees

Advantageous:

• Research or work experience in Africa, directly relevant to the Ghana fieldwork
• Good command of German
• Experience with interdisciplinary and globally dispersed teams

International degree holders: Attach a database excerpt from anabin.kmk.org confirming recognition of your degree by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

How to Apply

Submit your application exclusively via the IDOS online application portal by 14 June 2026 at 23:59 CET. Reference position number 2026-B-02 in your application.

Required documents:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Relevant certificates and transcripts
• Anabin recognition documentation (for foreign degrees)

Interviews: Expected July 2026.

Questions: Contact Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge at directorate.office@idos-research.de

FAQ

Is this a scholarship or a paid job?
A paid employment position with a German public sector contract, salary, benefits, pension, and annual leave included.

Can international applicants apply?
Yes. IDOS explicitly welcomes all nationalities. The working language is English.

Do I need to speak German?
German is listed as an asset, not a requirement. The primary working language is English.

What does “tropical suitability required” mean?
Fieldwork will be conducted in Ghana. Applicants need to be medically suitable for tropical climate fieldwork.

Where do I apply?
Through the IDOS online portal at idos-research.de. Submit all documents by 14 June 2026 at 23:59 CET.

For more information and application: 

Visit the official website of the IDOS Doctoral Researcher Position 2026