ECO-N 14 PhD Positions 2026: Applications Closed

ECO-N 14 Doctoral Researcher Positions 2026: At a Glance

ECO-N examines how interconnected natural commons can be used and conserved sustainably. The programme combines disciplinary doctoral training with interdisciplinary research across economics, meteorology, biology and related environmental sciences.

What ECO-N Researches

The programme studies connected natural commons whose ecological and economic functions interact across space, sectors and institutions. Official ECO-N materials identify examples including:

• biodiverse forests;
• fertile soils;
• regional climate;
• atmospheric aerosols;
• clean urban air; and
• interactions between ecological systems, resource use and human decision-making.

The second cohort’s doctoral projects sit within interdisciplinary collaborative projects that combine ecological, atmospheric and economic approaches rather than treating these systems independently.

Participating Faculties and Research Institutes

ECO-N brings together three Leipzig University faculties and several major research partners:

Around 30 early-career and established researchers from economics, meteorology and biology collaborate within the research training group.

Structured Doctoral Training

ECO-N combines individual dissertation research with a structured qualification programme. Official programme information highlights:

• doctoral programmes in Economics, Meteorology and Integrative Biodiversity Research;
• interdisciplinary advanced-training modules tailored to ECO-N;
• a welcome week for each cohort;
• annual retreats;
• a continuous lecture series with international guests;
• synthesis activities connecting the individual doctoral projects; and
• regular interaction across disciplinary research groups.

The second cohort is now entering this training phase; Leipzig University lists the ECO-N Welcome Week for 5–9 October 2026.

Contract Period, Workplace and Mobile Working

The official ECO-N application FAQ states that second-cohort employment contracts run until the end of the current grant on 31 August 2029. The programme expects funding to be extended so that a fourth year of employment can be offered.

Archived 2026 Application Requirements

The 2026 call is closed, but its application structure is useful for understanding how ECO-N recruited the second cohort.

The archived vacancy requested:

• a cover letter in English stating the doctoral project or projects of interest and explaining motivation, research interests and relevant experience;
• a digital copy of the Master’s certificate and transcript of records; and
• a PDF of one research paper, such as a Master’s thesis, Bachelor’s thesis or seminar paper.

Applicants submitted one application through the ECO-N/iDiv route. The official FAQ states that applicants had to select at least one doctoral project and could indicate up to two additional projects, explaining those choices in the cover letter.

How the Second-Cohort Selection Process Worked

Leipzig University’s application FAQ describes a multi-stage selection process after the 30 January 2026 deadline:

1. full application review;
2. short online interviews in late February/early March 2026;
3. an online recruitment symposium on 24–25 March 2026;
4. a short candidate presentation during the symposium;
5. a longer interview with the selection committee; and
6. offers to selected candidates in spring 2026.

The programme also states that proposed doctoral projects could be adjusted to reflect the selected researcher’s interests and skills while remaining within the overall ECO-N research framework.