About Position/Job
UniDistance Switzerland is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in History (80–100%) under the Chair of Modern and Contemporary History led by Prof. Dr. Bernhard C. Schär. Based in Brig, with partial teleworking options, the role begins on 1 December 2025 (or by agreement) and offers a 3-year contract with the possibility of a 2-year extension. The position focuses on global knowledge history with links to Switzerland and the Canton of Valais in the 19th and 20th centuries. The postdoctoral fellow will develop an independent research project within the chair’s themes, contribute to international collaborations, and engage in public history. This opportunity combines archival research, multilingual academic exchange, teaching, and interdisciplinary approaches in a stimulating environment at Switzerland’s leading distance-learning university.
Position/Job Details
- Position: Postdoctoral Fellow in History
- Institution: UniDistance Switzerland
- Department: Chair of Modern and Contemporary History
- Research Field: Global History / Modern and Contemporary History
- Location: Brig, Switzerland
- Number of posts: 1
- Job Type: Postdoctoral, Full-time (80% first year, then 100%)
- Start Date (Anticipated): December 2025 (or by agreement)
- Working Hours: As per Swiss academic standards
- Salary Range: Not specified
- Required Degree/Diploma: PhD
Research Area
- Global history of Europe or Switzerland
- Global history of science and knowledge
- Social history and history of gender on a global scale
- History of missions and colonial history
- Global knowledge history linked to Switzerland and Valais (19th–20th centuries)
Eligibility & Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- PhD in History or related discipline (completed by start date)
- Specialisation in one or more listed research areas
- Experience in archival research in multiple European languages
- Excellent command of German or French (C2), plus very good knowledge of the other (B2)
- Good proficiency in English for international research exchange
Preferred Qualifications:
- Familiarity with non-European archives
- Interest or experience in digital and public history
- Knowledge of additional languages, especially non-European
Key Responsibilities
- Support the development of two research projects in global knowledge history
- Conduct an independent postdoctoral research project aligned with the chair’s themes
- Publish research in peer-reviewed journals
- Contribute to teaching and public history initiatives
- Organise academic events, workshops, and symposia nationally and internationally
- Participate in the academic community of UniDistance Switzerland
Application Process
How to Apply:
Send applications as a single PDF file to jobs@fernuni.ch
Required Documents:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Copy of Master’s and Doctoral diplomas
- Two referees’ contact details
- A published article or book chapter (representative work)
- A 2-page sketch of proposed postdoctoral project
Important Dates
- Application Opens: 26 August 2025
- Deadline: 26 October 2025
- Interview Date: Not specified
Useful Links
- Institution Website: UniDistance Switzerland
- Official Notification Link: Click here
- Apply Now: jobs@fernuni.ch
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