PhD Positions in History 75 %

Bern

Key information

Publication date:09 October 2025
Workload:75%
Place of work:Bern

Job summary

The University of Bern is hiring three PhD positions for a historical research project. This is a unique opportunity to engage in impactful research with excellent benefits.

Tasks

Develop a historical dissertation in German or English.
Conduct in-depth research in archives and libraries.
Participate in research group meetings and workshops.

Skills

Master's degree in History or equivalent required.
Excellent teamwork and communication skills.
Strong interest in Swiss agricultural and environmental history.

Is this helpful?

At the Historical Institute of the University of Bern, three PhD positions in the history project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) "At the Crossroads of Commodity Frontiers: Food, Agriculture, and the Environment in Switzerland in the Age of Global Capitalism, 1870s-1930s" are to be filled as of January 1, 2026, or by agreement. The positions serve scientific qualification with the goal of a doctorate in history and are limited to four years.
The research project examines how various global commodity frontiers interacted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and how this shaped agricultural production, food processing, food consumption, and the environment in Switzerland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The project aims to investigate the interactions between the main commodity frontiers that shaped Switzerland's integration into global capitalism.

Tasks

Preparation of a historical dissertation in the form of a monograph (German or English)
Intensive research in archives and libraries
Participation in research group meetings
Support in organizing workshops as well as presenting research results at workshops and international conferences.

Requirements

Master's degree or equivalent in history
High motivation to write a historical dissertation
Strong teamwork and communication skills as well as the ability to self-organize and work independently
Great interest in the research project's topic and willingness to intensively engage with the agricultural, environmental, and capitalism history of Switzerland
Willingness to network internationally and to participate and contribute to international conferences and workshops
Good knowledge of German, French, and English

We offer

Salary according to the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) guidelines
Modern and well-equipped workplace at the University of Bern
Access to programs and further training opportunities for doctoral candidates as well as a variety of academic activities
Productive and supportive atmosphere in an intellectually inspiring research group as well as support from an international network of renowned experts
Individual supervision of the doctoral project and promotion with regard to further career goals

Interested?

We look forward to receiving your application with the following documents:

Motivation letter (including explanations of interest in the project)
Curriculum vitae (including any publications and two contacts for references)
Copies of certificates (including transcripts)
Excerpt from the master's thesis or another historical text (approx. 15-20 pages)

The University of Bern aims to increase the proportion of women in academic positions. Qualified female candidates are expressly encouraged to apply.

Please upload your application documents by November 10, 2025 via the portal.

Contact
Carole Mast, carole.mast@unibe.ch
Juri Auderset, juri.auderset@unibe.ch