Department of Thoracic Surgery

Assistant Professorship in Surgery for Advanced Functional Lung Disease 100 %

Start of employment by agreement, temporary

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zurich invites applications for an Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professorship in Surgery for Advanced Functional Lung Disease. The professorship will be based at the Department of Thoracic Surgery at the University Hospital Zurich and includes leadership of a research group as well as clinical duties as a senior physician.

The focus of the professorship is the establishment of a precision medicine program for patients with advanced lung diseases including innovative clinical, translational, and experimental research projects. We aim to contribute to an improved understanding and treatment of a broad spectrum of advanced lung diseases, including structural lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, as well as chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The research focus of the Department of Thoracic Surgery lies in oncology, emphysema and pulmonary hypertension, as well as transplantation research. The professor will be integrated into the thoracic surgery team and is expected to cover the full spectrum of general thoracic surgery. In the longer term, the candidate may take over responsibility for the lung transplantation program.

We are seeking a creative and collaborative individual with a strong commitment to excellence in research, clinical practice, and teaching. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of securing competitive third-party funding and has published in internationally recognized journals. Board certification in thoracic or cardiac surgery and clinical leadership experience are required as well as a habilitation or equivalent academic achievements.
The University of Zurich and the University Hospital Zurich offer an outstanding environment for innovative, cutting-edge research and numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across faculties and university hospitals. The professorship will benefit from excellent infrastructure and established networks, including the Center for Preclinical Development with access to state-of-the-art preclinical models, the Functional Genomics Center Zurich with advanced sequencing facilities, an extensive clinical lung transplantation database, and a biobank containing tissue and blood samples from the Department of Thoracic Surgery. It will further be strengthened by well-established international collaborations and national partnerships in thoracic surgery and transplantation.

Proficiency in German at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is required or must be acquired within a reasonable period of time.
The University of Zurich is an equal opportunity employer and strives to increase the percentage of women in leadership roles. Qualified female researchers are explicitly encouraged to apply.

Information on your application

Please submit your electronic application for this position by 31 July 2026. Applications by mail or e-mail will not be considered. For more information on how to apply, please refer to our instructions for applications.

What we offer

Our employees benefit from a wide range of attractive offers.

What we offer

Work-Life Balance
  • Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing)
  • Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH


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  • Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich

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  • Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias
  • Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution

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Healthcare
  • Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ
  • Free seasonal flu vaccinations
  • Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower

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Conditions of Employment
  • Policies of the UZH
  • Most UZH staff are employed according to public law


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International Services
  • Support for people from outside Switzerland

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Campuses
  • Campuses Zurich City, Zurich Irchel, Oerlikon and Schlieren
  • Sites Zurich West, Old Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden and Lengg


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Further information

Questions about the job

Prof. Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer President of the recruitment committee +41 44 634 10 74
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Working at UZH
The University of Zurich offers a wide range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and 12 professional apprenticeship streams, Switzerland's largest university provides an inspiring working environment at the vanguard of research and education. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
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Working at UZH

The University of Zurich offers a wide range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and 12 professional apprenticeship streams, Switzerland's largest university provides an inspiring working environment at the vanguard of research and education. Find out more about UZH as an employer! More
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