The Department of History at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) is opening a PhD position within the project “La Suisse et l’impérialisme: le rôle de l’État (1848-1918)”, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
Details of the Position
– Start date: 1 September 2026
– Duration of contract: 4 years
– Employment rate: 100%
– Place of work: University of Fribourg (Switzerland)
– Archival research locations: Brazil, France, United Kingdom, Portugal, Switzerland
Activities
– 80% of working time will be devoted to writing a doctoral thesis under the supervision of Prof. Dr Matthieu Gillabert (thesis supervisor) and Dr Fabio Rossinelli focusing on the role of Switzerland in the arbitration of inter-state conflicts between the mid-19th and early-20th centuries, as well as on the role of Swiss lawyers in international law within an imperial and colonial context
– 20% of working time will be dedicated to activities related to the SNSF project (for example: co-organising scientific events, publishing articles, participating in research seminars)
Profile
– Master’s degree in History (19th-20th centuries) or an equivalent qualification with an excellent academic record
– Strong interest in research, willingness to spend time abroad (archival research, participation in scientific events), very good analytical and summarising skills
– Ability to work independently and in a team
– Good command of French and English; good reading skills in German; additional languages, namely Portuguese, are an asset
– Good knowledge of Swiss History and/or Global History (especially in the context of colonial empires) and/or Legal History
We offer
– A four-year position with the goal of obtaining a PhD
– Participation in an international research project in Swiss and global history, including fully funded research trips abroad
– A salary in line with SNSF scales and with the University of Fribourg’s regulations
– Extensive opportunities for intellectual growth and career advancement, with the possibility (but no obligation) to be involved in teaching activities
– An open, inclusive and collaborative working environment, with full support and services provided by the University of Fribourg
– The opportunity to work in an attractive Swiss university city, at the heart of Europe and at the crossroads of France, Germany and Italy
Deadline for application
No later than 30 March 2026
Application Documents, to be sent to Ms Tonia Schilling (tonia.schilling@unifr.ch) as a single PDF document, with the subject line “Poste de doctorant-e: Suisse et impérialisme”
1) Letter of motivation, including at least one reference
2) Curriculum Vitae
3) Official transcripts and copies of university diplomas
4) Master’s thesis (before the start of the PhD if still in progress)
Other information
The University of Fribourg is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. Committed to promoting fair representation of women and men, the University of Fribourg strongly encourages applications from women. As a member of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), the University of Fribourg emphasizes qualitative evaluation of academic achievements and transparency in assessment processes.
For further information
– Prof. Dr Matthieu Gillabert, thesis supervisor: matthieu.gillabert@unifr.ch
– Dr Fabio Rossinelli, SNSF project leader: rossinef@msn.com
