Nieuws

A higher teaching and research institution composed of seven faculties with nearly 15,000 students and 5,000 academic staff, the University of Lausanne (UNIL) is the ideal institution for pursuing interdisciplinary studies. Situated in Lausanne, UNIL’s main campus brings together over 120 nationalities.

Presentation

The Institute of Geography and Sustainability (IGD) at the University of Lausanne seeks to fill one position as PhD Student / Graduate Assistant in Environmental Humanities. The Graduate Assistant will work under the responsibility of Professor Miriam Tola.

IGD is an interdisciplinary community bringing together scholars working in the fields of geography and sustainability. With 15 professors and more than 40 PhD students, the department offers a vibrant, stimulating environment for cutting-edge research. It hosts regular lecture series and distinguished guest researchers from around the world.

Job information

Starting date: February 1, 2021.
Contract length: 1 year, renewable twice for 2 years, for a maximum of 5 years
Activity rate: 80%
Workplace: Institute of Geography and Sustainability, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Your responsibilities

The successful candidate will develop personal research leading to a PhD in Geography with a specialization in the Environmental Humanities. The research topic should focus on one of the following areas:

·       the politics of race, gender and class in environmental movements in the European context;
·       feminist and decolonial perspectives on the hegemonic approaches to the environmental crisis (including the Anthropocene, ecomodernism, green capitalism);

The candidate will devote at least 50% of working time to her/his PhD research, with the remaining time reserved for supporting Professor Miriam Tola’s teaching and research activities.

Your qualifications

The successful candidate is expected to:

• have earned a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in gender studies, geography, cultural studies, sustainability or another field relevant to the post;
• demonstrate a marked interest for the intersection between gender, race, class and the politics of nature;
• have experience in working with qualitative methods;
• have working proficiency in English and the aptitude to learn French (the teaching language at UNIL);

What we offer

You will join a research team seeking to produce critical thought for addressing pressing socio-ecological challenges. We offer a stimulating and diverse work environment, with dedicated support for developing an academic career. Members of our research group become part of international networks and benefit from opportunities to attend conferences and workshops around the world. IDG offers an excellent remuneration package and additional funds for fieldwork and conferences.

Please contact Prof. Miriam Tola for more information on the position and how to prepare your application.

Your application

Please submit the following documents only via the career website of the University of Lausanne:

• cover letter detailing how the profile of the candidate matches the criteria above;
• a short (2–3 pages) proposal for doctoral research, including how it aligns with Prof. Tola’s interests;
• full CV;
• scans of university degrees and course transcripts/marks;
• 20-25 pages writing sample (excerpt from master’s thesis or research paper).