PhD Position in Sociology
University of Zurich
Switzerland

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

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