Ph.D. Position/Assistantship in Urban Studies

About Urban Studies in Basel
Urban Studies at the University of Basel is rooted in disciplinary approaches of architecture, geography, anthropology, social and political theory, and history, and oriented towards global Southern and postcolonial questions. With a regional focus on Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, we research cities and landscapes in an expanded field of public engagement, pedagogy, and extra-university collaboration. Besides neighboring disciplines in the Department of Social Sciences our most important intellectual and institutional partner is the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

This position offers the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in Urban Studies under supervision of Prof. Dr. Kenny Cupers (Architectural History and Urban Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.). In addition to pursuing doctoral research, you will teach two hours per week (during the semester) in the Master in Critical Urbanisms program, mentor Master's students, and assist in academic administration as needed. Your place of work is in the center of Basel. The position is for an initial period of one year, renewable for another three years after positive evaluation. The appointment is scheduled to begin on August 1, 2024.

Candidates should hold a Master's degree in urban studies, architectural or urban history, geography, anthropology, history, political science, sociology, or a related field. Candidates with a Master's degree in architecture or design are also invited to apply, if they can demonstrate their research adheres to scientific standards in the social sciences or humanities. Your proposed research should be integrated into and advance our current research agenda. Upon selection, the candidates will have to fulfill the conditions for admission to doctoral studies in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Basel. Fluency in written and spoken English is required; German language proficiency is an asset.

This position is part of an interdisciplinary English- and German-speaking research environment within the University of Basel, one of the leading research universities in Europe. We offer dedicated faculty mentorship to support your academic progress. The salary allows you to cover tuition and living expenses. The University of Basel is an equal opportunity employer; women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application/Contact

Please submit the following materials in PDF format using only the recruiting online tool of Basel University:

• a cover letter (maximum two single-spaced pages), describing your research experience to date.
• a curriculum vitae;
• a research proposal (up to five single-spaced pages);
• copies of undergraduate and graduate diplomas complete with transcripts;
• an electronic copy of your master's thesis;
• the names and contact information for two academic references

For more information, please visit our website: https://urbanstudies.philhist.unibas.ch/en/ or contact Prof. Kenny Cupers (kenny.cupers@unibas.ch)

The application deadline is April 12, 2024.