Postdoctoral Position in Science Communication and Public Communication of Science-Related Topics at University of Zurich University of Zurich in Switzerland

University of Zurich (UZH) is recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Chair for Science Communication in the IKMZ – Department of Communication and Media Research.

The position is with Prof. Dr. Mike S. Schäfer and focuses on science communication, communication science, and the public communication of science-related topics such as AI, climate change, health, and emerging technologies. The chair studies how science- and technology-related issues are publicly communicated, including the role of digital platforms, AI, political actors, and other stakeholders.

This is a 3-year postdoctoral position (80% appointment), paid according to the cantonal salary scheme, with the possibility of extension for an additional 3 years. The workplace is Zurich, Switzerland, and the expected start is around September 2026.

Applicants should have a doctoral degree in communication science or a closely related discipline, a strong empirical social-science profile, and excellent methodological expertise. The post welcomes candidates with quantitative, qualitative, experimental, or computational methods. Prior experience in science communication is helpful but not required. English proficiency is required; German is an advantage.

To apply, submit a motivation letter, CV with degrees and transcripts, publication list, up to three sample publications, and the full text of the PhD thesis through the UZH job portal by 2026-04-15.