PhD position within the Horizons project: MINARET - A Sociology of Post-Imperial Islamic Legal Cultures: Insights from Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia 100 %

Join a Leading Research Environment

Switzerland's largest university offers an inspiring working environment dedicated to cutting-edge research and top-class education. With approximately 10,000 employees and 12 professional apprenticeship streams, the institution provides a range of attractive positions across various subject areas and professional fields. Put your talent and skills to work in a setting that values individual development and collaborative excellence.

Your Responsibilities

As a member of the research team at the Department of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies, you will join a group headed by Prof. Peter Finke, who will serve as principal supervisor. You will be provided with sufficient time, guidance, and resources to develop individual research aligned with the overall aims of the MINARET project. This role also requires fulfilling the mandatory study requirements for doctoral students at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

• Conduct extensive fieldwork and undertake two secondments abroad, one academic and one non-academic, each lasting between two and six months.
• Participate in training events, workshops, and conferences organized by the MINARET Doctoral Network.
• Collaborate with international supervisors and peers to gain first-hand experience of legal, political, and governance transformations in post-imperial Muslim-majority societies.
• Develop skills necessary for successful careers in academia, policymaking, international organisations, and the wider public and private sectors through collaboration with universities, civil society organisations, think tanks, public institutions, and development agencies.
• Contribute to departmental activities while demonstrating strong motivation, the ability to work independently under pressure, and good collaboration and communication skills.

Your Profile

Applicants should hold a Master's degree in anthropology or a related discipline, accompanied by a strong academic record and experience in ethnographic fieldwork. High proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is expected. Knowledge of local languages, depending on the chosen field sites, is essential to conduct fieldwork successfully.

• Candidates must not have been awarded a doctoral degree and/or completed more than four years of full-time equivalent research experience.
• Candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work or studies) in the hosting country for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the recruitment date.