Master Thesis - Exploring the Impact of Dietary Patterns on Global Food Production

Your Job:

A significant portion of land is allocated to produce animal-based food products, and the arable land utilized for fodder production could potentially be utilized for direct food production. Simultaneously, the sector responsible for animal-based food production is one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. As the global population continues to grow, there is a corresponding increase in the demand for animal-based food products, further exacerbating the strain on already limited resources. This prompts the question: What viable alternatives exist to substitute animal-based food products? Furthermore, what effect would reducing or increasing the demand for animal-based foods trigger? Your tasks in detail:

• Work out an overview of possible alternative protein sources.
  
• Identify the techno-economic parameters as well as the land and water requirements for these protein sources.
  
• You have the opportunity to develop different scenarios from your results in order to model and analyze the effects of these different diets in an existing energy system model
  

Your Profile:

• You have good written and spoken English skills
  
• You are interested in analyzing data and processing it in Python
  
• You are interested in developing scientific modelling approaches and dealing with complex issues
  
• You are highly motivated and able to work independently and analytically and have a high degree of self-organization and time management skills
  

Even if you have no previous experience in modelling with Python, we look forward to receiving your application if you are enthusiastic about the topic and willing to familiarize yourself with complex topics in a short time.

Our Offer:

As a Master’s student, you will work as part of a team of experts with different scientific backgrounds. You will be involved in the development of global transformation pathways to realize a greenhouse gas-neutral energy system. We offer you a high degree of flexibility, insights into the processes of a leading scientific institute and the opportunity to work on highly relevant environmental and energy topics. Further we offer our students:

• Collaboration in a diverse, highly motivated working group with an international character in one of the largest research institutions in Europe
  
• An excellent scientific infrastructure and intensive supervision -Professional technical equipment for remote work and the opportunity to work 100% from home
  
• A reasonable remuneration
  

The position is initially for a fixed term of 6 months.

In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more: https://go.fzj.de/Benefits

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.