Assistant Professor (tenure track) in Environmental Humanities - Social Sciences

The University of Lausanne is a Higher Education research institution composed of seven faculties where approximately 17,000 students and nearly 5,000 research, teaching and technical staff work and study. Ideally situated along Lake Geneva, near Lausanne’s city center, its campus brings together over 120 nationalities. 

The Faculty of Geosciences and the Environment (FGSE) of the University of Lausanne invites applications for a professorship in Environmental Humanities - Social Sciences, to be based in the Institute of Geography and Sustainability (IGD).

The candidate will contribute to ongoing debates in environmental humanities at the international level and will pursue a field-based empirical research agenda. The ability to critically, reflexively, and analytically engage with environmental and sustainability issues, and to employ innovative research methods (e.g., multi-sited, multi-species, and multisensory ethnographies; art-based approaches; more-than-human methodologies), is essential. A focus on food studies would be considered an asset. Other research specialisations that align with ongoing work at IGD, such as (urban) commons, (urban) political ecology, agroecology or critical plant studies, are also welcome.

The University of Lausanne is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion within its community, and the appointment will be made at the Assistant Professor level (tenure track). In exceptional cases, outstanding candidates may be considered for appointment at the level of Associate or Full Professor, particularly if this supports our equal opportunity objectives.

Starting date: 1st of August 2025 (or to be agreed upon)

Contract length: 2 years renewable twice (6 years).

Tenure to the rank of Associate Professor expected after 5-6 years, according to the directive 1.4 of UNIL.

Activity rate: 100 % (or to be agreed upon)

Workplace: University of Lausanne (Géopolis building)

The successful candidate will actively participate in the research activities of the Institute of Geography and Sustainability and of the faculty, contribute to teaching in the Bachelor of Geosciences and Environment and the Master’s program in Sustainability at FGSE, and supervise Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral students.

We are seeking a candidate with broad training and theoretical expertise in the social sciences and interdisciplinary experience with life and environmental sciences. A PhD in a relevant area at the date of appointment is required and postdoctoral experience is expected. Candidates should demonstrate a capacity and/or willingness to undertake high quality research, to engage with national and international research networks, to secure research funding, and to publish in peer-reviewed international journals. A demonstrated potential for teaching and for supervising master and doctoral dissertations is required. If French is not the native language, teaching ability in French must be acquired within two years of the appointment.

The FGSE offers excellent working conditions. It consists of three research institutes (Earth Sciences, Geography and Sustainability, and Earth Surface Dynamics) and a School that manages teaching. It employs 50 professors, over 10 senior lecturers, 200 PhD students and post-docs, and more than 60 technical staff. The FGSE specifically promotes interdisciplinary research and teaching, within and between the social and natural sciences. We offer a competitive start-up package and long-term support in terms of two internally funded PhD positions.

Other useful information is available on the websites of the Faculty (www.unil.ch/gse) and the Institute of Geography and Sustainability (www.unil.ch/igd).

For further information, contact Professor Torsten Vennemann, Dean of FGSE (Write an email).

Application deadline: 20th December 2024 (23:59 Swiss time GMT+1).

The PDF application must be split into several files not larger than 9.9 MB and can only be submitted through this website. Thank you for your understanding.

Your application should include:

• • a cover letter;

  • a full Curriculum Vitae;

  • a research statement including a vision statement on Environmental Humanities (max. 4 pages);

  • a teaching statement of (max. 2 pages);

  • a short statement (max 1 page) on issues of EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion);

  • a list and links to your three most significant publications and a statement on your personal contribution to each of these publications;

  • the names and contact information of five referees.

The University of Lausanne is committed to promoting gender equality and diversity and strongly encourages applications from female candidates.  The FGSE’s strategy regarding equality, diversity and inclusion, specifically with respect to the recruitment of professors, is described in Appendix C of the FGSE’s action plan in favor of equal opportunities. The University has also implemented many measures to facilitate the life for parents/guardians of young children, including on campus childcare. The Faculty of Geosciences and Environment of the University of Lausanne adheres to the DORA agreement and follows its guidelines in the evaluation of applications.