PhD Position in Environmental and Agricultural History: Synthetic Fertilizers and Agriculture in Turkey (19th–20th Centuries) University of Basel in Switzerland

The Europainstitut / Institute for European Global Studies at the University of Basel, Switzerland, is offering a fully-funded, four-year PhD position as part of the Swiss National Research Foundation project “Feeding the Earth: Synthetic Fertilizers and the Remaking of Agriculture in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries.” This international research collaboration involves the University of Basel, the University of Birmingham, and Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg. The project investigates the global history of synthetic fertilizer adoption and its transformative effects on agriculture, focusing on the transition from traditional to synthetic fertilizers in regions including northern Europe, South Africa, Turkey, and Morocco. The PhD position is dedicated to the Turkey case study, based at the Europainstitut/Institute for European Global Studies.

The research will explore how synthetic fertilizers changed agricultural practices, boosted yields, and contributed to environmental challenges such as soil degradation and water pollution. The project also considers the sustainability of fertilizer use and the resistance from some farming communities. As climate change and environmental degradation prompt a rethinking of food systems, the research aims to understand historical adaptations to changing agricultural conditions.

The successful candidate will join a dynamic, interdisciplinary team and contribute to a largely understudied area of global agricultural history. The position is fully funded for four years, with support from the Swiss National Research Foundation. Applicants should have a relevant Master's degree, strong research skills, and a keen interest in environmental and agricultural history, particularly in the Turkish context.

Proficiency in English is required, and knowledge of Turkish is highly desirable. The application deadline is June 1st, 2026. Interested candidates should apply via the University of Basel job portal and ensure their application addresses the project’s focus and eligibility criteria.