Senior Research Fellow (Oberassistenz) in Cultural Studies and European Ethnology - Postdoc

Opportunita; Basel; Hybrid; CHF 60,000 - 90,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Habilitation support

60% workload

Academic environment Basel

Job summary

The University of Basel invites applications for a Senior Research Fellow (60%) in Cultural Studies and European Ethnology starting spring 2027. The position is fixed-term for two years with potential extension and focuses on visual, material, media, and digital culture, memory studies, and habilitation work.

The successful candidate will collaborate with museums and cultural institutions, teach two hours weekly, supervise theses, and contribute to departmental research and administration in

Qualifications

• PhD in European Ethnology or related field with strong qualitative methods.
• Experience in empirical-qualitative research; museums/cultural heritage collaboration ideal.
• Fluent German and English; Italian a plus.

Responsibilities

• Research on visual, material, media, and digital culture, museums, and memory studies.
• Expand networks with museums and civil society; contribute to habilitation completion.
• Teach ~2 hours per week and supervise bachelor and master theses.
• Contribute to committee work and self-administration.

Skills

Empirical-qualitative research

German & English proficiency

Education

PhD in European Ethnology / Empirical Cultural Studies

Tools

Multimedia software

Job description

# Senior Research Fellow (Oberassistenz) in Cultural Studies and European Ethnology - PostdocUniversity of Basel Basel, SwitzerlandApplication Deadline: **November 30, 2026**Contract Duration: **2 years**Employment type: **Fixed-term / Temporary**Position Type: **PostDoc**Date Posted: **October 26, 2026**Research Field: **Cultural Studies**Department: **Department of Cultural Studies and European Ethnology**Contact Email: **[e-mail]**Explicify summary## Offer SummaryThe University of Basel invites applications for a Senior Research Fellow (Oberassistenz) in Cultural Studies and European Ethnology, starting in the spring semester of 2027. This part-time position, allocated at 60% workload, is initially contracted for two years with potential extension. The role focuses on research into visual, material, media, and digital culture, museums, and memory studies, aiming to support habilitation completion. Responsibilities include expanding collaborative networks with cultural institutions and civil society, teaching two hours weekly, and supervising students. Candidates must hold a relevant doctorate, possess strong empirical-qualitative research experience, and demonstrate excellent command of German and English. Preferred qualifications include museum collaboration experience and familiarity with multimedia software. Applications are due by November 30, 2026, via the university portal.Generated from stored offer content. Always confirm details in the official posting.## Project DescriptionThe Department of Cultural Studies and European Ethnology at the University of Basel fosters a dynamic intellectual environment and is dedicated to conceptually rigorous, empirically grounded, and applied research across the following areas: culture, everyday life, and politics; globalization, migration, and mobility; anthropology of knowledge and science and technology studies; the body, senses, and health; visual, material, media, and digital culture; museums; and memory and narrative studies. The department invites applications for a Senior Research Fellow position (60%), beginning in the spring semester of 2027.### **Your position*** Research on visual, material, media, and digital culture, museums, and memory and narrative studies, with the aim of completing a habilitation* Expand the department's collaborative networks with museums, cultural heritage organizations, and collections (e.g., the multimedia archive of Swiss Empirical Cultural Studies, EKWS), as well as with civil society and artistic actors in Basel and beyond* Teach (2 hours per week) and supervise students, including bachelor's and master's theses* Contribute to committee work and self-administration### **Your profile*** A doctorate in European Ethnology/Empirical Cultural Studies, or Social and Cultural Anthropology* Research focus on visual, material, media, and digital culture, museums, and memory and narrative studies* Experience in empirical-qualitative research within a European context, with an optional extension of fieldwork to non-European settings as well* Experience collaborating with museums, cultural heritage organizations, collections, civil society organizations, or artistic communities* Experience teaching at the university level* Excellent command of German and English; Italian is a plus* An independent, structured, and team-oriented way of working* Preferred: experience in museum, exhibition, or curatorial work, and/or collections management* Preferred: familiarity with multimedia software (video and audio) and experience with multimodal teaching or exhibition projects### **We offer you**The opportunity to pursue a habilitation at a workplace in the heart of Basel, with scope to shape your own work within a committed team. Terms of employment follow University of Basel guidelines. The Oberassistenz appointment runs for two years, with the possibility of extension for a further four years.**Application / Contact** Please send your application - including a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, an outline of your research and teaching concept (max. 2 pages per document), and a sample essay or qualifying thesis - by November 30, 2026, exclusively through the University of Basel's online application portal. Interviews will be held in Basel on January 18, 2027. We can only accept applications submitted through the online application tool. For questions, please contact [e-mail].---### Academic ContactDepartment of Cultural Studies and European Ethnology [e-mail]26/10/2026Last UpdateUniversity of Baseljobs.unibas.ch## Apply for this positionThis application must be completed through the official university portal.Apply on official website Source Domain**jobs.unibas.ch**Status**Verified official source**Always cross-verify dates and details on the university's official site before submitting your application.