University of Fribourg

The Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (SES) at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, invites applications for a 5-years PhD position at the Chair of Communication and Media Studies. The successful candidate will work as a teaching and research assistant at the Department of Communication and Media Research (DCM) and write a doctoral thesis under the direction of professor Thilo von Pape.

The DCM offers an outstanding and supportive research environment based on interdisciplinary and innovative collaborations at the interface between communication, media, business and society. Unique in its bilingualism, located in the heart of Europe, and renowned for its rigorous training and research, the University of Fribourg affords a decisive first step towards a rewarding research career.

Information

Start date: February 1st, 2022, or to be agreed

Contract duration: 5 years (1 year; renewable 4 years)

Employment rate: 100%; the salary will be established according to the guidelines of the University of Fribourg

Profile

Interests:

You are creative and enthusiastic about the theory and methods of empirical social research. You like working autonomously as well as in a multilingual team. You are interested in one or more of the following areas:

- qualitative or quantitative methods of social research,

- communication in digital contexts: social networks, smartphones, ...,

- uses, effects, and social and environmental issues of media innovations: equal access, everyday appropriation, social support, privacy, sustainability, …

- teaching through research.

Skills:

Ideally, you are proficient in the qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis applied in the social sciences; expertise in software tools (R, Python, NVivo, ...) is considered an additional asset.

Education:

You have obtained a Master’s degree in communication studies or in a closely related social science (sociology, psychology, …) with a focus on empirical research.

Languages:

Full proficiency in French and a good command of English. Notions in German and a commitment to perfect your language skills are appreciated.

Application

Questions:

Please address any questions regarding the position and/or the application to Jolanda Wehrli (jolanda.wehrli@unifr.ch), with the object “PhD position von Pape”.

Documents:

The application must contain:

- a cover letter specifying research interests and motivations,

- a CV containing the names of two academic references,

- transcripts of completed academic training,

- summary of the Master thesis on one page,

- other relevant certificates (e.g., TOEFL) or documents (e.g., evaluation of Master thesis).

The evaluation will focus on your academic record, interests, attitude, and the ensuing potential for academic success; it is committed to diversity and inclusion.

Deadline:

The application must be sent as one single PDF document to Jolanda Wehrli (jolanda.wehrli@unifr.ch) by December 1st, 2021.

Link to pdf of job opening: https://www.unifr.ch/dcm/en/assets/public/files/jobs/2111AssvonPape_en.pdf

French version: https://www.unifr.ch/dcm/en/assets/public/files/jobs/2111AssvonPape_fr.pdf