SAGE is one of four Global Centres for Climate and Environment funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the German Federal Foreign Office. It is coordinated by An-Najah National University (Nablus, Palestine) and the University of Tübingen (Germany).

The SAGE Centre aims to empower societies in the Middle East to develop science-based solutions for the adaptive and sustainable management of natural resources under conditions of global change. Based in the Jordan River region, SAGE supports interdisciplinary research, regional capacity building, and the generation of scientific knowledge addressing climate change impacts on agriculture, water resources, biodiversity, and food security.

Within this framework, SAGE announces a PhD research opportunity focused on:

Diversifying Agriculture through Intercropping in Semi-Arid Systems

The project aims to investigate innovative intercropping systems suitable for semi-arid environments in Palestine, with the goal of improving agricultural resilience, soil health, water-use efficiency, biodiversity, and farmers’ livelihoods under changing climatic conditions. The selected PhD fellow will conduct interdisciplinary research combining agronomy, ecology, climate adaptation, sustainable land management, and socio-economic assessment.

The project will involve extensive field experiments. Skills in designing, collecting and analysing empirical field data, especially with plants, are thus expected.

The fellow will be associated with a German university and conduct research activities in Palestine under joint supervision by researchers from the region and Germany.

The fellowship is expected to start in 1st of August 2026 and will run for at least three years. Extensions may be granted based on the quality and progress of the research. In addition to the fellowship stipend, SAGE provides support for research activities, international mobility, annual stays abroad, and specialized training through the SAGE Research School.

General Requirements

Applicants should meet the following criteria:

1. Hold a Master’s degree or equivalent scientific university degree in agronomy, agriculture, environmental sciences, ecological sustainability or related fields.

2. Can spend most of her/his time in Palestine (field work during the rainy months would be conducted in the West Bank),

3. Demonstrate excellent communication skills in English and Arabic.

4. Show strong motivation, creativity, organization skills, and scientific curiosity.

5. Possess a critical and analytical mindset.

6. Have experience or strong interest in interdisciplinary and international research collaboration.

Application Instructions

A complete application must include:

We expect applicants to prepare their motivation letters and application materials independently and without the use of AI-generated content. If AI tools have been used for limited support purposes (e.g., spelling or grammar checks), this must be clearly indicated.

1. Motivation letter

2. Complete Curriculum Vitae (CV)

3. Academic transcripts (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees)

4. Two letters of recommendation

no later than: 08/06/2026

Please ensure that recommendation letters are sent directly by the referees to the email address above.

We are committed to diversity and equal opportunity and strongly encourage applications from female scientists and other underrepresented groups.

Applications should be submitted as a single PDF document to:

[email protected]