The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies is recruiting a
Post-doctoral position in the history of global maternal health(F/M/D)
Presentation of the Institute:
The Geneva Graduate Institute, founded in 1927, is a world-renowned centre of excellence for the study of international relations and development. Located in Geneva, Switzerland, the Institute offers a stimulating, multicultural and interdisciplinary academic environment. It offers masters and doctoral programmes, and conducts cutting-edge research on major global challenges.
Introduction of the project:
Applications are invited for a post-doctoral position with the project “Global Maternity: The Politics of Knowledge Production at the World Health Organization, 1948-2008,” funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and hosted at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. The Post-Doc (PD) will work with the Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Nicole Bourbonnais and Project Partner (PP) Dr. Ogechukwu Williams to explore how knowledge and expertise flowed into and out of the WHO, the tensions contained in the global governance of maternity, and the role of mothers themselves in responding to/intervening in these processes.
The project includes three pillars:
Pillar 1: an overarching history of the WHO’s work on maternity during its first 60 years (conducted by the PI)
Pillar 2: 4 micro-historical case studies focusing on the fields of death (the production of maternal mortality statistics), birth (the evolution of pregnancy and childbirth guidance), breast (the regulation of infant feeding) and mind (the visibility/invisibility of maternal mental health) (PI, PP, and PD)
Pillar 3: public and policy-facing work aimed at inserting the project findings into contemporary discussions of motherhood, global health, and international organizations more broadly (PI, PP and PD).
Key responsibilities:
(1) Conducting and publishing original research on 2 of the 4 micro-historical case studies, on the subjects of birth (pregnancy and childbirth) and mind (maternal mental health). The idea is to narrow in on a specific pamphlet, guide, meeting, moment, person, or other micro-historical subject to explore in depth through the HQ archives in Geneva and archival, oral history, and/or ethnographic research in a particular location (ex a maternity ward in X country where the guide was/is used, the location of a key meeting…etc). The specific subjects and sites can be developed by the PD, but must be relevant to the WHO’s work and will ideally compliment rather than replicate the regional expertise of the PI (the Anglophone Caribbean) and PP (Nigeria/British Africa). Academic outputs for the PD will include 3 solo-authored journal articles (one on each of the 2 case studies and one reflecting on the use of micro-history from a methodological perspective), as well as a co-authored introduction to an edited volume.
(2) Taking the lead on Pillar 3 (policy and public-facing work of the project). This will include organization of three events: a project launch event in Year 1, a 2-day research-policy workshop in Year 3, and a final public event in Year 4 presenting the project results. The PD will also take the lead in putting together a 4-part podcast series covering the four case studies (death, birth, breast and mind, 1 hour each), released in Year 4.
To be successful in this role, you should have:
A doctoral degree in history or a related field of relevance to the position, in hand by the agreed start date of the position (ideally Sept 1, 2026 at the latest)
Experience conducting archival and/or oral history research
Excellent knowledge of English and any other languages needed for the proposed sites of archival/field research
- Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team
Assets :
- Past research on the history of global health, the history of reproduction/motherhood, the history of international organizations, and/or micro-history
- Theoretical knowledge of reproduction, motherhood, governance, and health from an interdisciplinary perspective
- Previous experience organizing events and working with policymakers/the public
- Previous experience in podcasting or other creative mediums
What you can expect from us:
Working with a large international community of users from diverse backgrounds.
Interesting job with varied tasks.
Good atmosphere in a human-sized team. At the heart of International Geneva.
How to apply
We invite you to submit a complete file in PDF format with the following documents:
- A letter of motivation (max 2 pages) outlining how the applicant’s past experience will allow them to contribute to the project and indicating their possible start date if selected
- An academic CV detailing education, dissertation subject/fields, past research and other relevant experience, publications, conference papers, and contact information for three references
- A research proposal (max 2 pages), outlining some initial ideas as to how the applicant might approach the case studies and what regions, sites, or micro-historical subjects might be the focus
- Two writing samples (e.g. academic publications, PhD chapters, and/or public-facing scholarship)
*Please note that AI should not be used to generate text for the application materials. *
Complete applications must be submitted through the website by June 1, 2026.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, marital status, disability status, race, national origin, color, gender, sexual orientation or religion.
For more information, candidates are encouraged to consult the Institute's website : graduateinstitute.ch
Please note that offers received by post or direct email won't be considered.
