3 PhD Positions in Social Anthropology 100 %
Start of employment 1st of February 2025. The full-time appointment will be for a period of 4 years.The Department of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies (ISEK) at the University of Zurich is offering three PhD positions within a 4-year research project titled “Dealing with Institutional Volatility: Food Production, Processing and Trade in South-Eastern Qazaqstan”. The project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and led by Prof. Dr. Peter Finke. Its objective is to study the food industry in South-Eastern Qazaqstan as an interlinked system of production, processing, distribution, and consumption. Rural households and petty entrepreneurs hereby see themselves confronted with a volatile ecological as well as political environment. The project aims to shed light on the institutional challenges and corresponding strategies of the actors involved as well as the impacts on the social fabric in the region.
The PhD projects will focus on three different interrelated sectors within the local and regional food complex by way of a distributed and shared multi-sited approach. Project 1 will focus on agricultural production, looking at individual households and farming enterprises. Project 2 will research in small- and mid-scale food processing factories, primarily in the dairy and meat sector, while project 3 will investigate the gastronomy sector and its socio-economic embeddedness in the regional setting. In addition to that, a postdoctoral researcher will study trade with food products within the region and beyond. She or he will, together with Prof. Finke, also serve as a project coordinator.
As an ISEK doctoral student, you will become part of a dynamic, innovative and stimulating research and teaching environment, with excellent opportunities for further qualifications, and a motivated faculty interested in academic exchange. As a PhD student at a Swiss university, you will also have the opportunity to join the “Swiss Graduate Program in Anthropology” (http://anthropology.cuso.ch).The salary is based on rates set by the Swiss National Science Foundation (http://www.snf.ch/SiteCollectionDocuments/allg_doktorierende_e.pdf).
Your responsibilities
Your profile
- has graduated with excellent results on a research-based MA thesis in Social Anthropology or a related discipline
- has fieldwork experience, ideally in Central Asia
- has excellent written and spoken English language skills; Qazaq or other relevant language skills are also a major advantage
- is able and willing to work individually as well as in a team
- takes initiative and enjoys organizing and engaging in (international) academic exchange
- has a keen interest in exploring ideas and practices
- is open to methodological diversity, including qualitative and quantitative approaches
Information on your application
We look forward to receiving your electronic application by November 15, 2024.Please enclose the following documents:
- Motivation letter, stating clearly why you are interested in this project and pursuing a PhD in anthropology at UZH
- An indication of which project you would like to work on with a short description of your research interests
- Curriculum Vitae
- An electronic copy of your MA Thesis
- Copies of your academic degrees
- Names and contact details of two referees
What we offer
What we offer
Location
Further information
Questions about the job
Prof. Dr. Peter FinkeThe University of Zurich, Switzerland's 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!
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