Research Assistant (m/f/d) - Keyword: InnovaGEIST -

The Innova.GEIST research and transfer project examines social innovations as an essential component of sustainable regional development in Lusatia in close connection with technical innovations. Our aim is to contribute to a better understanding of innovation corridors in industrial regions and to explore their significance for the structural change region of Lusatia. Through cooperative research methods, we test inclusive innovation strategies with practice partners from the technology sector and explore ways of connecting social and technological innovation practice.

We are particularly interested in the barriers and (unseen) opportunities to address social innovations and identify them in technical innovation processes. The starting point is specific regional needs (such as skilled workers, corporate culture, education and sustainable development) of technical-economic and social innovation processes.

The position includes the development and application of transdisciplinary research on social and technological innovation processes, in particular the following tasks:

• Literature research on innovation in rural structural change regions,
• Development and implementation of explorative, qualitative field research in Upper Lusatia to link social and technological innovation cases with existing practice partners,
• Preparation of social science research for practice partners,
• Preparation and support of the transfer phase,
• Participation in science communication (transfer workshops, podcast),
• Scientific publication.

The following knowledge and skills are required

• Completed scientific university degree, preferably in the social sciences or related disciplines such as economics, geography, regional planning, design, art sciences,
• sound knowledge of the social sciences,
• Knowledge (research and/or application) of regional transformations, social innovations in regions undergoing structural change/rural industrial regions
• Project experience in interdisciplinary teams,                  
• scientific interest in research and innovation issues relating to socio-ecological regional development,
• Interest in theory-practice transfer and development of experimental formats,
• Science transfer experience/knowledge or at least curiosity.

In addition, the following are desirable

• Initial experience in the implementation of research projects and in scientific work, also in the context of student or research assistant activities,
• Experience in the documentation, presentation and design of scientific contributions and the development of training materials,
• Methodological experience: cooperative research with practice partners,
• Experience in coordinating and cooperating with partners outside academia,
• Experience with and curiosity about science communication,
• Research and publication experience (in the field of inter- and transdisciplinary research),
• project and professional experience.

We expect from you

• high motivation, independent, team-oriented way of working,
• an independent, solution-oriented and proactive way of working,
• an interest in professional and personal development.