Department of Palaeontology

MNF/Open PhD position on Neotropical Fish Palaeontology and Systematics 80 %

Start of employment Spring 2025, temporary

We invite applications for a PhD position at the Evolutionary Morphology and Palaeobiology of Vertebrates group in the Department of Palaeontology of the University of Zurich. The University of Zurich is one of the top research institutions in Europe and offers an exceptional academic environment for research and study. The Department of Palaeontology has state-of-the-art research facilities in an international and stimulating academic environment. The Natural History Museum of the University is closely tied to our department; it offers opportunities to participate and develop skills in scientific outreach activities. The city of Zurich, in close proximity to the Alps, with a lake and river in which to swim in the summer, offers conditions for an excellent quality of life. We offer a vibrant, collaborative work environment and high-quality supervision. All former PhD students graduated with excellent publication records and almost all have consecutively moved on to postdoc positions at renowned academic institutions. Our group has hosted PhD students from many countries across the world.

Your responsibilities

The PhD candidate will work on a Swiss National Science Foundation supported project in the research group around Prof. Dr. Marcelo Sánchez-Villagra (www.msanchezlab.net). The PhD concerns the fossil record and evolutionary history of freshwater fishes, particularly the catfish and cichlid clades. It will involve taxonomic and systematic work, as well as studies of faunal dynamics in deep time. The comparative anatomical work will involve CT- and surface scanning for 3D modelling; there are fieldwork opportunities in South America associated with the project.

Your profile

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated student of Life- or Earth Sciences with a zoological or palaeontological background. Excellent writing skills in English are required. Knowledge of at least the basics of systematics, vertebrate anatomy and statistics are much desired. The prospective student is expected to have received a master's degree or equivalent by the start of the PhD and will hopefully have published or be about to publish on her/his Masters. The student is to enrol in the evolutionary biology graduate programme (www.evobio.uzh.ch/en.html).

Information on your application

To apply, please send a letter of motivation including information on previous scientific work and publications if available (maximum of 2 pages), a CV, and contact details of two referees. Please ensure that all those parts are combined into a single PDF-file. Together with an electronic copy of the Masters-thesis, please send your application to Alexandra Wegmann (alexandra.wegmann@uzh.ch). Deadline for applications is 17th January 2025, but applications will be considered until the position is filled. Applicants should be prepared to be interviewed in February 2025 and start in the Spring (northern Hemisphere) of 2025. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact us (www.msanchezlab.net; m.sanchez@pim.uzh.ch).

What we offer

Our employees benefit from a wide range of attractive offers. More

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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Learning and Development
  • Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich
  • Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich

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Food
  • 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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Discounts
  • Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space
  • Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions
  • Special conditions on hotel reservations

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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

Alexandra Wegmann
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Contact question to: Alexandra Wegmann

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Questions about the application procedure

Alexandra Wegmann
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Contact question to: Alexandra Wegmann

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Working at UZH
The 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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Please apply via our job portal www.jobs.uzh.ch.

Working at UZH

The 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! More
UZH