DAAD United Nations University Doctoral Research Scholarship 2022 for Researchers
When is the application deadline?
July 10, 2022
Tell me about the price:
The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and knowledge dissemination to further the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter. UNU’s mission is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to solve the pressing global problems that concern the United Nations and its member states.
For the past four decades, UNU has been a think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable development and well-being. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNU’s work spans the full scope of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and generates policy-relevant knowledge to drive positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 partnerships with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions around the world. For more information, visit http://unu.edu.
United Nations University for Integrated Material Flux and Resource Management (UNU-FLORES)
UNU-FLORES develops strategies to solve pressing problems in the sustainable use and integrated management of environmental resources such as water, soil, waste, energy and other geo-resources of interest to the United Nations and its Member States – in particular in the development and emerging economies. Based in Dresden, Germany, the institute engages in research, capacity development, postgraduate education, advanced training and knowledge dissemination to advance the Resource Nexus. https://flores.unu.edu/
PhD research
UNU-FLORES is pleased to announce a doctoral researcher opportunity as part of the DAAD Graduate School Scholarship Program. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to conduct research work under one of three thematic areas under the guidance of supervisors from both UNU-FLORES and Technische Universitaet Dresden. Students will also collaborate with fellow PhD students and senior scientists in research, organization and participation in events, publications where possible, and contribute to the UNU-FLORES Implementation Plan and the United Nations Mission. As a facet of the project, students should consider the impact of their research on communities and the potential for transferring their research after completion of the PhD.
Which fields are eligible?
Project 1: Transitioning to a Circular Economy for Food Through Water and Biodiversity under Climate Change Scenarios Data Scarce Arid Regions – Advancing the Water-Soil-Atmosphere Nexus through a Combination of Remote Sensing and Modeling
What kind of scholarship is this?
PhD
Who can apply?
Project 1 Required Qualifications and Experience
An excellent academic profile including a master’s degree of at least grade 2.5 or equivalent according to the German system in environmental science, environmental engineering, public or environmental management, environmental assessment, economics or related disciplines; at least two years of experience in environmental assessment/management, at least partly in the context of water or agriculture, sustainability, some preferably in an international setting;The master’s degree must be completed at the time of the start of the fellowship;The last master’s degree must have been obtained not more than six years ago at the time of nomination; Must have been in Germany for no more than fifteen months at the time of nomination; Knowledge of environmental and socio-economic issues in agriculture and water management; Experience with policy analysis is required; Capable of be able to conduct inter- and transdisciplinary research; Experience in multi-stakeholder communication; Experience in report preparation, communication and presentations is required; Strong conceptual ability ties; knowledge of geographic information systems and/or statistical methods and climate change scenarios would be desirable; Excellent writing and presentation skills; Experience in inter- and transdisciplinary research, including interactions with relevant authorities and stakeholders; Strong planning, organization and time management skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and Communicate efficiently; Must be flexible with the ability to prioritize and work within prescribed time frames; An excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills as evidenced by the ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;demonstrated proficiency in English is required; Knowledge of another official working language of the UN, especially Spanish or French, is an advantage.
Project 2 Required Qualifications and Experience
An excellent academic profile including a master’s degree of at least grade 2.5 or equivalent according to the German system in environmental science, geography, coal or environmental geology, public or environmental management, environmental assessment or related disciplines At least two years progressively responsible experience in environmental assessment/management, at least partly in the context of the coal phase-out and/or an international setting;The Master’s degree must have been obtained at the time of the start of the fellowship;The last Master’s degree must have been obtained no more than six years ago at the time of nomination;At the time of nomination, applicants must not have been in Germany for more than fifteen months; Knowledge of environmental and social issues in coal regions in Latin America (preferably Colombia); Able to conduct inter- and transdisciplinary research; Experience in multi-stakeholder communication related to the coal transition; Experience in reporting, communication and presentations is required; Strong conceptual skills; Knowledge of geographic information systems and/or statistical methods is desirable; Excellent writing and presentation skills; Experience in inter- and transdisciplinary research, including interactions with relevant authorities and stakeholders; Strong planning, organization and time management skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and efficiently ;Must be flexible with the ability to prioritize and work within prescribed timeframes;An excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills as evidenced by the ability to work in a multicultural, multiethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;demonstrated proficiency in English is required; Proficiency in Spanish is required; Knowledge of German and/or another official working language of the UN is an asset.
Project 3 Required Qualifications and Experience
An excellent academic profile including a master’s degree of at least grade 2.5 or equivalent according to the German system in Environmental Science, Physical Geography, Climatology, Hydroscience, Soil Science, Remote Sensing, Agricultural Science or related disciplines;At least two years of progressively responsible experience in arid agricultural climatology or a similar field;The master’s degree must be completed by the time of commencement of the fellowship;The last master’s degree must not have been completed more than six years ago at the time of nomination;At the time of nomination, applicants must not have been in Germany for more than fifteen months; Knowledge of specific challenges for agriculture, climatology and hydrology in arid areas; Demonstrated knowledge of remote sensing and geographic information systems; The ability to analyze metadata and apply R or Python for analysis or visualization is desirable; The ability to work inter- and transdisciplinary research to be conducted;Experience in multi-stakeholder communication;Experience in report preparation, communication and presentations is required;Strong conceptual skills; ability to plan and conduct fieldwork; Excellent writing and presentation skills; Experience in inter- and transdisciplinary research, including interactions with relevant authorities and stakeholders; Strong planning, organization and time management skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and efficiently; Must be flexible with the ability to prioritize and work within prescribed timeframes; An excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills as evidenced by the ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; Demonstrated proficiency in English is required; Knowledge of another official UN working language is an asset.
How are candidates selected?
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise that may be followed by a competency-based interview, background checks, and references.
Which countries are eligible?
Not specified
Where will the prize be won?
The successful candidate will be enrolled as a student in Dresden, Germany.
How many scholarships are given?
3
What is the benefit of a scholarship?
The DAAD-GSSP pays a monthly stipend of EUR 1200 for the duration of the PhD research (up to a maximum of four years). The stipend is expected to cover all living and education costs. Although the doctoral program is tuition-free, semester fees of approximately EUR 250-300 must be paid directly to TU Dresden for enrollment. For more information about the program and the admission procedure, please visit our website. The DAAD can also provide health insurance and introductory German lessons. An additional allowance for travel or research is part of the scholarship offered by the DAAD. Details will be shared with shortlisted candidates.
How long does the program last?
This position is offered as a full-time position and with a one (1) year student contract with UNU-FLORES. The possibility of renewal is subject to satisfactory work performance and completion of specific milestones. The combined duration of the agreement shall not exceed four (4) years.
How to apply for a scholarship?
You don’t need an account to sign up with UNU. Instead, we ask you:
Apply via the application line and provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form); answer some questions specific to the position; and Submit the following documents as one PDF file (please note that you need to upload your file on the application page where the P11 form is requested) fill out the UNU P11 Form (avoid using similar forms from other United Nations organizations); A completed and signed doctoral program application formA motivation letter confirming for which project you are applying; A Curriculum Vitae; A list of publications; A summary of the doctoral project (max. 1 page); A work schedule and timetable for the doctoral project, including details of any upcoming phases abroad/field research; Copies of ALL university degrees and transcripts; Evidence of completed internships; Proof of language proficiency (see application form); Summary of MSc thesis (or equivalent); Two recommendation forms (from two of your college professors).
Candidates who do not submit all required documents will not be considered. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
You may want to refer to the UN Framework for Values and Behavior For more information.
