The University of Bonn is hiring a Research Associate (PhD position, 65%) for the DFG project PALMWORK, based at its Department of Southeast Asia in Bonn, Germany. The post starts on 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible, is paid under TV-L pay grade 13, and applications close on 22 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full call and set out the project, the tasks and the application steps below.
The PhD Position at a Glance
🎓 Position: Research Associate (PhD position) for the DFG project
⚖️ Working time: 65%
🏛️ Employer: University of Bonn, Department of Southeast Asia
📍 Based at: Bonn University, Germany
🗓️ Start: 1 January 2027, or as soon as possible
📝 Contract: initially fixed-term according to § 2(1) WissZeitVG until 31 December 2029
💶 Pay: in accordance with TV-L pay grade 13
🔢 Application code: 2026/447
Working the Plantationocene: What PALMWORK Studies
The full project title is Working the Plantationocene. Ecological Labour Regimes of the Palm Oil Value Chain (PALMWORK). It examines the relationship between labour and the environment along the palm oil value chain, particularly in the areas of:
🏭 Production: plantations and oil mills
🏘️ Social reproduction
A Comparative Study Across Three Regions
PALMWORK is designed as a qualitative comparative analysis of case studies from:
🌄 Northeast India
🌍 Ghana
🗺️ Colombia
The Research Fields Behind the Project
The project builds on research from the following fields:
⛓️ Labour regime analysis
🧩 (Feminist) labour geography
🌍 Environmental labour studies
🌐 Political ecology on the materiality of nature and the society–nature metabolism
Part of DFG Priority Programme 2575
PALMWORK is being carried out as part of the DFG Priority Programme 2575 "Sustainability and Resilience of Agri-Food Chains". It consists of three sub-projects, located at:
🏫 The University of Bonn
🎒 The Free University of Berlin
📖 The University of Kassel
This position is for the sub-project in Northeast India and is based at Bonn University.
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Your Tasks in the Sub-Project
🥾 Field research with plantation and mill workers in North-East India
📑 Contribution to joint publications
📣 Contribution to science communication
Required Qualifications
📜 A completed academic degree (Master's) in the social sciences or earth sciences (political science, human geography, regional studies, sociology or equivalent)
🧭 Willingness to conduct independent field research in Northeast India
🗣️ Very good spoken and written English
🤝 Good communication and teamwork skills
🌏 Intercultural and diversity competence
What Would Strengthen Your Application
🇮🇳 Experience of conducting independent research in India
🔍 Good knowledge of qualitative research methods
👷 Experience with working and researching with (palm oil) workers
💬 Good command of a language spoken in Northeast India (e.g. Assamese, Bengali, Nepali)
🧠 Good knowledge of the project's research area (political ecology, political economy, analysis of labour regimes, environmental labour studies, labour geography)
What the University of Bonn Offers
🎯 Opportunity to pursue a PhD
🚀 Be part of a cutting-edge research team
🕸️ Be part of a larger network of scholars in the DFG Special Programme
🏠 Flexible working hours and the ability to work from home
🧾 Remuneration in accordance with TV-L pay grade 13
About the University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is an international research university offering a broad range of subjects. With a 200-year history, some 31,500 students and more than 6,000 employees, and with an outstanding reputation in Germany and abroad, it is one of the leading universities in Germany and has been awarded the status of a University of Excellence.
Equal Opportunity at the University
The University of Bonn promotes an open, respectful and non-discriminatory academic culture and is actively committed to equal opportunity and family friendliness. It aims to eliminate structural disadvantages and to strengthen diversity in research, teaching and administration, and therefore welcomes all applications, regardless of ethnic or social background, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, disability or age.
Applications from women and people with a documented severe disability (or equivalent status) will be given preferential consideration in accordance with the State Equality Act (LGG) NRW and Social Code (SGB) IX.
How to Apply
Send your application by email and include the following:
✉️ Motivation letter
📄 CV
🖋️ Writing sample (if available)
🏷️ The application code 2026/447
Find more roles like this in the Jobs section on Youth Works Hub →.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PALMWORK Research Associate position at the University of Bonn?
It is a 65% Research Associate post that includes the opportunity to pursue a PhD, within the DFG project PALMWORK on labour and the environment along the palm oil value chain. The position is for the sub-project in Northeast India and is based at Bonn University.
When does the PALMWORK PhD position start and how long does it last?
The position is to be filled from 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible. It is initially a fixed-term contract according to § 2(1) WissZeitVG until 31 December 2029.
How is the position paid?
Remuneration is in accordance with TV-L pay grade 13. The position is advertised at 65%.
What degree do I need to apply?
You need a completed academic degree (Master's) in the social sciences or earth sciences. Political science, human geography, regional studies, sociology or an equivalent field are named in the call.
Will I have to do fieldwork in India?
Yes. The tasks include field research with plantation and mill workers in North-East India, and willingness to conduct independent field research there is a requirement.
Do I need to speak an Indian language for this PhD position?
It is not listed as a requirement, but a good command of a language spoken in Northeast India, such as Assamese, Bengali or Nepali, is desirable. Very good spoken and written English is required.
Which other universities are involved in PALMWORK?
The project consists of three sub-projects located at the University of Bonn, the Free University of Berlin and the University of Kassel. It is part of DFG Priority Programme 2575 "Sustainability and Resilience of Agri-Food Chains".
Which case studies does the project compare?
PALMWORK is a qualitative comparative analysis of case studies from Northeast India, Ghana and Colombia. This position covers the Northeast India sub-project.
Can I work from home in this role?
The University of Bonn offers flexible working hours and the ability to work from home. The position itself is based at Bonn University and includes field research in Northeast India.
What documents are needed for the University of Bonn application?
You need a motivation letter, a CV and a writing sample if you have one, sent with the application code 2026/447. If you draft with AI tools, it is worth reading about the copy-paste trap in AI-written motivation letters first.
Deadline
⏳ 22 November 2026
Application Email
📧 Send your application (code 2026/447) to: opye@uni-bonn.de
