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swisspeace

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Postdoctoral Researcher in Dealing with the Past and Transitional Justice swisspeace in Switzerland

Degree Level

Postdoc

Field of study

Anthropology

Funding

Postdoctoral position at 80–100% with salary between CHF 73,000 and CHF 85,000 depending on experience. Initial appointment is for one year, with expectation of renewal for a second year if outputs are of high quality; further extension may be possible with successful acquisition of external research funding. Support for conference attendance and other research costs is included.

Deadline

Sep 6, 2026

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Country

Switzerland

University

swisspeace

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Keywords

Anthropology
Sociology
Psychology
Political Science
Memory Studies
International Relations
Transitional Justice
Law
Archive

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About this position

swisspeace is recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher in Dealing with the Past (80–100%) based in Basel, Switzerland. The post is affiliated with the University of Basel and sits within swisspeace’s Dealing with the Past program, which focuses on transitional justice, peacebuilding, and responses to massive human rights violations in contexts of colonialism, armed conflict, and authoritarian rule.

The role is designed for researchers who want to develop innovative projects, publish high-quality research, teach at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and engage with policy and practice through workshops, consultancies, and trainings. The institute also supports the successful candidate in building longer-term third-party research funding.

Research areas of interest include archives, victim participation, the search for disappeared and missing persons, psychosocial dimensions of dealing with the past, reparations, and art/memory/creative practices. The post is especially relevant for candidates working in political science, international relations, social anthropology, urban or gender studies, international law, psychology, and related interdisciplinary fields.

Eligibility highlights: a PhD awarded at least one year before the deadline, strong publication record, research design and methodological skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in international and interdisciplinary teams. English is required; additional language skills relevant to the field are an asset.

Funding and conditions: salary is CHF 73,000–85,000 depending on experience. The initial contract is for one year, with expected renewal for a second year if outputs are strong; further extension may be possible if external funding is secured. Conference attendance and other research costs are supported.

Deadline: 6 September 2026. Applications must be submitted in English via the online portal only.

Funding details

Postdoctoral position at 80–100% with salary between CHF 73,000 and CHF 85,000 depending on experience. Initial appointment is for one year, with expectation of renewal for a second year if outputs are of high quality; further extension may be possible with successful acquisition of external research funding. Support for conference attendance and other research costs is included.

What's required

PhD degree in a field related to dealing with the past, awarded at least one year before the application deadline. Applicants should have high-quality publications appropriate to career stage, a track record or clear potential to acquire research funding, strong research design and methodological skills (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods), and demonstrated expertise in one of the listed areas: archives; victim participation; search for disappeared and missing persons; psychosocial dimensions; reparations; or art, memory and creative practices. Excellent written and oral English is required; additional relevant language skills are an asset. Candidates should be able to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary and international teams and show commitment to equitable partnerships with academics and institutions in the Global South.

How to apply

Prepare a complete application in English and submit it through the online portal only. Include a motivation letter, a two-page concept note/work sample, CV, diplomas/certificates, letters of recommendation if available, and names/contact details of two academic referees.

More information can be found here

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