Introduction
The University of Lausanne (UNIL) is a higher teaching and research institution composed of seven faculties, with nearly 17,000 students and 5,000 staff, including professors and researchers, working across the Dorigny campus, CHUV, Epalinges, and Sion sites. As an employer, it encourages excellence, individual recognition, and responsibility.
Presentation
The Institute of Geography and Sustainability (IGD) seeks to fill a position for a SNF Junior (without Doctoral Thesis) or Senior (with Doctoral Thesis) Researcher in Social Science. This role is linked to Prof. Emmanuel Reynard's research group and the collective “Margins, Environment, Landscapes”. It is part of the SNF project QUALISCAPE – Assessing tipping points in Baukultur qualities, https://data.snf.ch/grants/grant/226182, within the National Research Program NRP81 Baukultur, https://www.nfp81.ch/en.
The IGD is an interdisciplinary community of about 130 academics working in Geography and Sustainability, including 27 professors and lecturers, and over 60 PhD students and Post-docs. It offers a vibrant environment for cutting-edge research, hosting regular lectures and inviting distinguished guest researchers worldwide.
Job information
Starting date: 01.08.2025
Contract length: 12 to 18 months
Activity rate: 60-100%
Workplace: University of Lausanne, IGD, Sion UNIL Campus, Bramois, Switzerland
The position is based at the Sion Campus of UNIL, supervised by Prof. Emmanuel Reynard. The workplace will be at Sion, with regular interactions with Dr. Roger Keller from the University of Zurich. Participation in the inter- and transdisciplinary research team QUALISCAPES involves regular meetings online and in Bern.
Your responsibilities
The successful candidate will conduct research on the links between Baukultur and Sense of Place and Landscape Services within the QUALISCAPES project. Main tasks include:
1. Reviewing literature on ‘sense of place’ and the eight Baukultur quality criteria (https://www.bak.admin.ch/bak/en/home/baukultur/qualitaet/davos-qualitaetssystem-baukultur.html)
2. Conducting literature review on Baukultur/landscape qualities and ‘sense of place’ in Switzerland, and identifying links between Baukultur qualities and sense of place across various landscapes
3. Comparing sense of place Baukultur qualities with landscape service descriptions (https://landscapeservices.ch) in Switzerland
4. Organizing and conducting focus group discussions with stakeholders in three demonstrator areas
5. Developing landscape narratives to explore perceptions, values, and expectations regarding landscape changes
Your qualifications
The ideal candidate will have a Master’s or PhD in Social Sciences (e.g., geography, sociology, anthropology, urban planning, environmental sciences). Additional skills include:
1. Research experience or interest in ‘sense of place’ and landscape services
2. Experience with systematic literature reviews and qualitative content analysis in English, French, German, or Italian
3. Knowledge of or interest in applying landscape narratives to stakeholder perceptions
4. Fluency in English; basic or willing to learn French, German, or Italian for stakeholder interaction
5. Organizational skills for leading focus groups
6. Interest in inter- and transdisciplinary teamwork and participation in national research networks
What the position offers you
We provide a stimulating environment with support for academic career development. Our members join international networks and can attend conferences and workshops globally. Salary aligns with the Swiss National Science Foundation post-doctoral scale (www.snf.ch), with additional funds for fieldwork and conferences. Opportunities for further training at UNIL or Swiss institutions are also available.
Your application
Deadline: 05.05.2025 (interviews on May 19, 2025)
Please submit in PDF format via the UNIL career website:
* Letter of motivation
* Full CV
* Degrees and transcripts
* Master’s or PhD thesis and research papers (if available)
Only applications through the specified website will be considered.
Contact for further information
Prof. Emmanuel Reynard (Email)
Dr. Roger Keller (Email)
Additional information
UNIL is committed to:
* Equality, diversity, and inclusion
* Respectful environment fostering personal development
* Work-life balance support
* Support for early career researchers
unil.ch/egalite
#J-18808-Ljbffr