Professorship in History of the Earlier Middle Ages with a Focus on Material Cultures (Open Rank) 100 %

The University of Zurich invites applications for a professorship in history of the earlier Middle Ages with a focus on material cultures (open rank) starting on 1 August 2028.

Depending on the qualifications of the appointee, the professorship will take the form of a chair or a tenure-track assistant professorship.

Candidates are expected to have teaching experience and an outstanding academic record of research in the history of the earlier Middle Ages. The profile of the position includes a focus on some aspect of material culture (including written documents). We expect candidates to have concrete plans for introducing innovative initiatives in this field, securing highly competitive grants (ERC, SNFS), and establishing international partnerships. In addition, the candidate is expected to be open to collaborating with colleagues at the Department of History, in the medieval fields of other disciplines of the humanities, and the Zentrum Zürcher Mediävistik.

Candidates must hold a PhD degree at the time of application and have an excellent record of academic publications in the relevant field. Teaching may be carried out in English. Non-German speaking candidates are expected to acquire a working knowledge of German within the first three years of their appointment. The Department of History, the University of Zurich and Zurich as a university location offer a stimulating research and teaching environment with rich opportunities for professional exchange and cooperation. The University of Zurich is an equal opportunities employer. To promote diversity in academic leadership, qualified women and individuals from other underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.


The closing date for applications is 4 November 2026. Further details on the application process can be found on the website of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. For additional information about the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Claudia Zey.