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As a humanistic, sustainable and action-oriented university, Leuphana University of Lüneburg stands for innovation in education and science. Methodological diversity, interdisciplinary cooperation, transdisciplinary cooperation with practice and an overall dynamic development characterise its research profile in the core topics of education, culture, management/technology, sustainability and state. Its international study model with the Leuphana College, the Leuphana Graduate School and the Leuphana Professional School is unique in Germany and has won many awards.

The University is looking for a responsible, motivated and committed person as

Research Associate / Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d)

(salary group EG 13 TV-L, 75%, for a limited period of 4 years)

in the area of 

Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessments – Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis

within the ERC Advanced Grant project

Global Assessment of Participation in Sustainability Governance (GAPS)

Project

GAPS – Global Assessment of Participation in Sustainability Governance – is a five-year project funded through an ERC Advanced Grant awarded to Prof. Dr. Jens Newig. It pioneers a step change in our understanding of public participation (PP) in sustainability governance. Despite the global spread of participatory practices – from citizen climate assemblies and participatory budgeting to stakeholder consultations – we still lack systematic knowledge of whether, how, and under what conditions PP advances sustainability, strengthens democracy, or delivers justice across diverse political systems, cultures, and levels of development.

GAPS will, for the first time, assemble and analyse thousands of documented cases of PP in sustainability governance from all world regions. A key methodological innovation is the large-scale application of advanced Large Language Models (LLMs) to systematically code rich qualitative case narratives. This AI-assisted case-survey method enables rigorous large-N cross-case comparison, preserving contextual depth. GAPS will generate the first global, theory-driven evidence base on participatory sustainability governance, and advance both social science methodology and governance theory.

The project team comprises the Principal Investigator (PI) Prof. Newig, one postdoctoral researcher, and four doctoral researchers, each focusing on one analytical stream: (1) sustainability performance, (2) democracy, justice, legitimacy, (3) global patterns, and (4) environmental impact assessments. This PhD project will be co-supervised by Prof. Nicolas W. Jager at TU Berlin. For more information on the project, see https://sustainability-governance.net/2026/06/29/erc-advanced-grant-gap….

Location

Leuphana University Lüneburg is a young, internationally acclaimed university located in the Hamburg metropolitan region, focusing on sustainability, cultural and political science, education, management and entrepreneurship, and public affairs. The Research Group on Governance, Participation and Sustainability, led by Prof. Newig, is affiliated both with Leuphana’s School of Sustainability and Leuphana’s Centre for the Study of Democracy. The multidisciplinary group of senior and early-career social scientists addresses complex governance challenges in environmental and sustainability politics (https://sustainability-governance.net). The working location for this PhD project will be partly TU Berlin and partly Leuphana University Lüneburg.

Your tasks:

This PhD position focuses on the sustainability performance, democratic legitimacy, and social justice of – more and less participatory – environmental assessments: investigating whether, how, and under what conditions public participation improves the quality, ambition, and implementation of environmental assessments (e.g., Environmental Impact Assessments or Strategic Impact Assessments) – across global regions and diverse fields of environmental planning. Your work will span all project phases:

• • Conceptual framework and codebook: You will contribute to developing the theoretical-conceptual framework and codebook.
• • Case search and AI-assisted coding (WP2): Drawing on AI-assisted document analysis, you will build a database on hundreds of cases of environmental impact assessments in all world regions with special focus on whether and how PP was included in decision-making and with what environmental, democratic and justice-related outcomes.
• • Causal process tracing: You will conduct in-depth qualitative process tracing on selected cases to uncover causal mechanisms through which PP influences outcomes related to environmental sustainability, justice, legitimacy and democracy.
• • Large-N data analysis: Drawing on the completed database of environmental assessments, you will apply a range of complementary analytical methods – including regression analysis, path analysis / structural equation modelling, and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) – to identify which forms of PP, under which conditions, affect the above-mentioned social goals.
• • Synthesis and theory building (WP4): You will contribute to cross-stream synthesis, triangulating findings from the participatory and non participatory environmental assessments with findings from the general database of participation cases, and contribute to the development of a globally informed theory of participatory sustainability governance.
• • Publication and dissemination: You will prepare your findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals and present your work at national and international conferences.

Your profile:

• • An excellent Master’s degree or equivalent in environmental planning, political science, human geography, public administration, or a related discipline;
• • A committed personality, able to work independently and collaboratively, with strong communication skills;
• • A strong interest in environmental policy, sustainability governance, public participation, democratic theory and environmental justice;
• • Experience with or strong interest in quantitative and/or qualitative comparative social science research methods (e.g. regression analysis, QCA, process tracing);
• • Experience with or strong interest in AI-assisted text analysis and/or case-based meta-analysis is an advantage;
• • Excellent written and spoken English;
• • German language proficiency would be an additional asset.

Our offer:

• • An intellectually stimulating role in a high-profile, ERC-funded research project with resources for research and conference travel,
• • Close supervision by Prof. Newig and Prof. Jager (TU Berlin) and collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of researchers;
• • A vibrant research environment with excellent contacts to international research networks in governance, public policy, and sustainability science,
• • The opportunity to pursue a doctorate (cumulative PhD) within a supportive and internationally connected research group,
• • An inspiring working environment as part of the university community of researchers, teachers, students and staff in technology and administration,
• • A workplace at one of the most beautiful university locations in Germany in a true campus university with an internationally acclaimed central building by Daniel Libeskind and the directly adjacent Wilschenbruch nature reserve,
• • A high level of job security as part of the public service,
• • An additional company pension scheme through the Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder (VBL),
• • Flexible and family-friendly working hours within a flexitime framework from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
• • Flexible and family-friendly opportunities to alternate between presence work and mobile work,
• • An extensive internal and external continuing education programme,
• • A wide range of sporting activities sponsored by the university, which employees can take part in for one hour per week during working hours to promote their health,
• • A university-sponsored catering service for lunch and dinner in the refectory,
• • A Germany ticket sponsored by the university as a job ticket.

Your application: 

For questions about the position (but not about individual eligibility) please contact Prof. Dr. Jens Newig ([email protected]; Web: https://sustainability-governance.net).

Leuphana University of Lüneburg promotes professional gender equality and heterogeneity among its members. Applications from people with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration if they have the same qualifications. 

Interviews are expected to take place from 17 to 21 August 2026, with all decisions, by both sides, finalised by 28 August 2026.

Applicants should submit (1) a cover letter that briefly addresses the above-mentioned qualifications; (2) their CV, (3) a one-page PhD proposal (paper-based PhD) aligned with the profile of the position, (4) all relevant certificates and transcripts (incl. Abitur / high school), (5) up to three writing samples, and (6) the names of up to two academic referees. Please submit all required documents (without photo) via our application portal – and also as one single PDF to [email protected] – by 10 August 2026.

We look forward to receiving your application!