Phd position Labour Geography

Department of Geography Phd position Labour Geography 80 % Start of employment 01.06.2025

With 28,000 students and 9,000 employees, the University of Zurich (UZH) is the biggest university in Switzerland. As a member of the “League of European Research Universities”, it counts among the leading European universities. UZH offers a culturally diverse and inspiring working environment and promotes international collaboration in research. The Labour Geography Unit at the Department of Geography of the University of Zurich invites applications for a PhD position. The appointment will be for up to four years, with an initial appointment for three years and a one year extension.

Your responsibilities The appointee will explore how precarious workers can be made more visible. The PhD project aims at researching old and new forms of precarious labour and to develop solutions on how these forms of work can be better integrated into existing labour market statistics and indicators. The Public Data Lab is an interdisciplinary project with the aim of capturing social, environmental and economic change in Canton Zurich and highlighting its social impact. This enables political decision-makers to plan effective strategies and interventions. The Public Data Lab is a collaboration between the University of Zurich, the Zurich University of the Arts, the Statistical Office of Canton Zurich, and Opendata.ch and is funded by the Digitalisation Initiative of the Zurich Higher Education Institutions (DIZH).

• You will explore old and new forms of precarious labour as the core of your PhD research project
• You will work and collaborate within the Public Data Lab
• You will present and publish your results at appropriate venues
• You will contribute to teaching and services in the Labour Geography Unit
• You will participate in the Graduate School in Geography and Earth System Science, and complete the associated requirements

Your profile We are looking for an early career researcher, who has recently completed a Masters in Human Geography or a related social science discipline, who is excited by the possibility of developing a theoretically grounded, societally relevant approach, which will allow decision makers to better take the situation of precarised workers into account in policy and planning.

• You have completed, or will shortly have completed, a Masters degree in a relevant field
• You can demonstrate good knowledge of social science methods in data collection and analysis
• You are interested in issues related to labour and precarity
• You have good organisational and communication skills
• You speak and write German and English fluently
• You value diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Your benefits

• Your PhD will be part of a structured programme in the Graduate School of Geography and Earth System Science
• 70% protected time for your research
• Pay according to the regulations of the University of Zurich for PhD Candidates (at the standard employment level for doctoral students of 80%)
• Holiday entitlement of 25 days plus public holidays per year
• Regular supervision and mentoring
• UZH offers attractive working conditions and opportunities for further education

We will provide a stimulating and supportive research environment, with ample opportunities for collaboration. Zurich and its surroundings provide an excellent living environment, with a broad range of cultural activities and easy access to the countryside and mountains. Information on your application To find out more about the research undertaken at the Labour Geography Unit, visit our web page. general information about teaching and research in the Department of Geography is available here. To apply, please upload the following documents (as a single PDF) in either German or English 1) A motivation letter, explaining why you want to apply for this position, and demonstrating how you fulfil the criteria listed above 2) A CV and the contact details for three referees 3) Degree transcripts 4) Your Masters thesis, including a 500 word summary of your thesis setting out your scientific motivation, what you did, results and the implications of your work The initial deadline for applications is 10th April 2025. Review of applications will commence thereafter and will continue until the position is filled. What we offer Work-Life Balance

• Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing)
• Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH

Learning and Development

• Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich
• Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich

Food

• Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias
• Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution

Healthcare

• Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ
• Free seasonal flu vaccinations
• Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower

Discounts

• Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space
• Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions
• Special conditions on hotel reservations

Conditions of Employment

• Policies of the UZH
• Most UZH staff are employed according to public law

International Services

• Support for people from outside Switzerland

Campuses

• Campuses Zurich City, Zurich Irchel, Oerlikon and Schlieren
• Sites Zurich West, Old Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden and Lengg

Location Department of GeographyWinterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland Further information Questions about the job Karin Schwiter Prof. Dr. Working at UZH The University of Zurich, Switzerlands largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!

Information :

• Company : Universität Zürich
• Position : Phd position Labour Geography
• Location : Zürich, ZH
• Country : CH