PhD Position in Sociology

University of Zurich

Institution: University of Zurich (UZH), Department of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies (ISEK)
Project: Horizons Project SOCIAL – Sociology of Authoritarian Law: Insights from Central Asia
Position Type: Full-time, temporary (36 months)
Start Date: 1 August 2026
Application Deadline: 31 January 2026
Number of Positions: 2

Research Focus

  • DC16: Rural governance in Qazaqstan – local governance practices, democratization, ethnographic fieldwork

  • DC17: Governance in Mongolia – rural civic participation, traditional authority, institutional adaptation

  • Emphasis on law–society–governance dynamics under authoritarian regimes

  • Fieldwork and two secondments abroad (one academic, one non-academic, 2–6 months each)

Responsibilities

  • Conduct independent research aligned with SOCIAL project goals

  • Undertake extensive fieldwork in Central Asia

  • Participate in training events, workshops, and conferences

  • Contribute to departmental activities and collaborate with international supervisors

  • Develop transferable skills bridging academia and policy

Qualifications

  • MA in anthropology or related discipline

  • Less than four years of full-time equivalent research experience post-MA

  • Strong academic record and ethnographic fieldwork experience (preferably mixed methods)

  • High proficiency in English

  • Knowledge of Russian, Mongolian, and/or Qazaq essential for fieldwork

Application Materials

  • Cover letter (max 1,000 words)

  • Curriculum vitae

  • MA thesis (and optional additional work)

  • Copies of degrees

  • Contact information for 2 references

  • Research plan (up to 3,000 words, excluding references) including purpose, research questions, theoretical framework, and methodology

  • Statement on Swiss residence/mobility (certifying no more than 12 months in Switzerland in the last 3 years)

Benefits

  • Competitive salary with financial support for fieldwork, publications, and conferences

  • Access to Swiss Graduate Program in Anthropology

  • Flexible work arrangements, childcare options, continuing education, language courses

  • Sports facilities, subsidized meals, transportation and accommodation discounts

Location: Andreasstrasse 15, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland

Contact:

  • Chair: Peter Finke – +41 (0)44 635 22 33

  • Admin assistant: Miriam Wohlgemuth – +41 (0)44 635 22 12

Bewerben