Open Positions
Please visit this page regularly to check for open positions. If no positions are available in your field of interest, nevertheless feel free to contact the relevant group leave to inquire about future possibilities.
-
PhD student in "Observation & model representation of past and current firn changes"
The University of Fribourg is located in central western Switzerland, at the foothills of the Swiss Alps. The university has about 10’000 students across all scientific disciplines. Being part of the Faculty of Science and Medicine, the Department of Geosciences comprises approximately 90 employees and offers various BSc and MSc programs in Earth sciences, in geosciences and geography.
The Cryosphere group within the Department of Geosciences has a staff of c. 25 and has strong expertise in surface and subsurface processes of glaciers and ice sheets, permafrost and geophysics. The Cryosphere group is looking for a
PhD student in "Observation & model representation of past and current firn changes"
This 4-year PhD position is part of the deFIRN project and is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The project is a collaboration between University of Fribourg (Martina Barandun and Horst Machguth), the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF (Ruzica Dadic), and ETH Zurich (Evan Miles). The core team consists of the 4 PIs, 4 PhD students, and 4 Postdocs and aims to quantify the impact of disappearing firn on mountain glaciers. The project also features a broad network of partners in Europe and Central Asia.
The aim of this PhD position is to measure the changes in firn on glaciers in Switzerland and Central Asia, with particular focus on repeating historical measurements and quantifying how the firn has changed since then. Special focus will be on firn temperature, firn density and stratigraphy. The PhD student will use existing and new measurements to improve existing firn parameterizations and develop new algorithms to simulate the key processes governing the ongoing firn changes. The position is based at the Department of Geosciences of the University of Fribourg and will be supervised by H. Machguth and co-supervised by R. Dadic and W. van Pelt (University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden).
This may be the perfect position for you if you have a master’s degree in environmental science, geoscience, engineering, physics, or a related field, you are interested in the cryosphere, you have experience in computational data analysis or modelling, and if you are eager to work on mountain glaciers in the Alps and in Central Asia. Very good verbal and written communication skills in English are required, French or German is an asset.
If you are interested, please send your application (merged into one PDF file), including (1) motivation letter, (2) CV (including list of publication, if applicable) with contact details of at least two references, and (3) educational transcripts directly to Horst Machguth by Mail . The evaluation of applications will start 11 February and will continue until the position is filled.
The optimal starting date for the PhD candidate is April 2026, but there is some flexibility. Please contact Horst Machguth by Mail if you have questions. University of Fribourg is committed to diversity and inclusion. We actively promote equality and foster an open, inclusive work environment.
Download Open Position -
Postdoc in "Improving understanding & model representation of firn hydrology"
The University of Fribourg is located in central western Switzerland, at the foothills of the Swiss Alps. The university has about 10’000 students across all scientific disciplines. Being part of the Faculty of Science and Medicine, the Department of Geosciences comprises approximately 90 employees and offers various BSc and MSc programs in Earth sciences, in geosciences and geography.
The Cryosphere group within the Department of Geosciences has a staff of c. 25 and has strong expertise in surface and subsurface processes of glaciers and ice sheets, permafrost and geophysics. The Cryosphere group is looking for a
Postdoc in "Improving understanding & model representation of firn hydrology"
This 3-year postdoc position is part of the deFIRN project and is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The project is a collaboration between University of Fribourg (Martina Barandun and Horst Machguth), the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF (Ruzica Dadic), and the ETH Zurich (Evan Miles). The core team consists of the 4 PIs, 4 PhD students, and 4 Postdocs and aims to quantify the impact of disappearing firn on mountain glaciers. The project also features a broad network of partners in Europe and Central Asia.
The aim of this postdoc position is to measure the changes in firn on glaciers in Switzerland and Central Asia, with particular focus on firn hydrology and firn densification. The postdoc will work closely with a PhD student and use the measurements to improve selected existing parameterizations of firn densification and hydrology. The position is based at the Department of Geosciences at the University of Fribourg and will be supervised by H. Machguth.
This may be the perfect position for you if you have a PhD degree in environmental science, geoscience, engineering, physics, or a related field, you are interested in the cryosphere, you have experience in computational data analysis and modelling, and if you are eager to work on mountain glaciers in the Alps and in Central Asia. Very good verbal and written communication skills in English are required, knowledge in French or German is an asset.
If you are interested, please send your application (merged into one PDF file), including (1) motivation letter, (2) CV with complete list of publication, (3) contact details of at least three references and (4) copy of your PhD diploma directly to Horst Machguth by Mail . The evaluation of applications will start 11 February and will continue until the position is filled.
The optimal starting date for the postdoc candidate is April 2026, but there is some flexibility. Please contact Horst Machguth by Mail for further inquiries. The University of Fribourg is committed to diversity and inclusion as core values. We actively promote equality and foster an open, inclusive work environment.
Download Open Position -
Postdoc in "efficient firn and glacier modelling at regional scales"
The University of Fribourg is located in central western Switzerland, at the foothills of the Swiss Alps. The university has about 10’000 students across all scientific disciplines. Being part of the Faculty of Science and Medicine, the Department of Geosciences comprises approximately 90 employees and offers various BSc and MSc programs in Earth sciences, in geosciences and geography.
The Cryosphere group within the Department of Geosciences has a staff of c. 25 and has strong expertise in surface and subsurface processes of glaciers and ice sheets, permafrost and geophysics. The Cryosphere group is looking for a
Postdoc in "efficient firn and glacier modelling at regional scales"
This 2-year postdoc position (potentially to be extended to three years including fieldwork in Central Asia) is part of the deFIRN project and is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The project is a collaboration between University of Fribourg (Martina Barandun and Horst Machguth), the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF (Ruzica Dadic), and ETH Zurich (Evan Miles). The core team consists of the 4 PIs, 4 PhD students, and 4 Postdocs and aims to quantify the impact of disappearing firn on mountain glaciers. The project also features a broad network of partners in Europe and Central Asia.
The aim of this postdoc position is to implement changes to an existing surface mass balance model, openAMUNDSEN. The postdoc will update the model with physical parameterizations of firn and albedo processes and will couple the model to an existing machine-learning algorithm to develop a computationally efficient workflow to scale and transfer relevant processes from the glacier to the regional scale. The position is based at the Department of Geosciences of the University of Fribourg and will be supervised by Martina Barandun.
This may be the perfect position for you if you have a PhD degree in environmental science, geoscience, engineering, physics, or scientific computing, you are interested in the cryosphere, and if you have ample experience in computational data analysis and modelling. Very good verbal and written communication skills in English are required, knowledge in French or German is an asset.
If you are interested, please send your application (merged into one PDF file), including (1) motivation letter, (2) CV with complete list of publication, (3) contact details of three references and (4) copy of your PhD diploma directly to Martina Barandun by Mail . The evaluation of applications will start 11 February and will continue until the position is filled. The optimal starting date for the postdoc candidate is April 2026. Please contact Martina Barandun by Mail for further inquiries. University of Fribourg is committed to diversity and inclusion as core values. We actively promote equality and foster an open, inclusive work environment. -
Two Open PhD Positions in Environmental Humanities – Exploring Biodiversity Narratives (80%)
We invite applications for two interdisciplinary PhD positions in the environmental humanities at the intersection of literary and cultural studies, the social sciences, and biodiversity communication.
The two PhD positions are part of a larger research project on the cultural perception of biodiversity, focusing specifically on biodiversity narratives. The project systematically examines how biodiversity is represented, narrated, and justified across science, politics, and culture – particularly in literature. At its core, the project investigates how biodiversity acquires value through narratives – not only in instrumental or ethical terms, but also through aesthetic and affective dimensions. Insights gained from this analysis will be used to inform future approaches to biodiversity communication. The focus is on the German-speaking world and Switzerland.
Both dissertations will analyze existing narratives and discourses about biodiversity in different societal contexts. One PhD project (PhD 1) will focus on representations of biodiversity, the other (PhD 2) on the justification of biodiversity values and biodiversity conservation.
The project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and led by Prof. Dr. Claudia Keller, a cultural and literary scholar based at the Environmental Sciences and Humanities Institute (UniFR_ESH) at the University of Fribourg. This highly interdisciplinary institute coordinates and promotes research and teaching in environmental and sustainability studies, providing a unique space for reflection and dialogue on these issues in Switzerland.
PhD 1: Biodiversity Representation
Objectives and tasks:
The PhD project (monograph or cumulative dissertation) will include the following tasks:
- Cultural and literary analysis of biodiversity narratives in science, society, and culture
- Theoretical and methodological development of approaches to analyzing and assessing biodiversity narratives and the values they convey
- Systematize the various forms of biodiversity representations in the various fields
- Interdisciplinary reflection on the role of biodiversity narratives in communication and public understanding
- Organization of workshops and conferences, as well as editorial work within the project framework
- Collaboration with other research groups at the UniFR_ESH Institute and the Department of Geosciences
Candidate Profile:
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with the following qualifications:
- A completed master’s degree, preferably in German Studies, comparative Literature, or another philological or cultural studies discipline. A master’s degree in environmental humanities may also qualify
- Familiarity with methods of literary and cultural analysis or a strong willingness to learn them quickly
- Interest in and/or experience with topics such as biodiversity, biodiversity conservation, ecology, and environmental communication
- Enthusiasm for working in an interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment
- Excellent command of German and English (spoken and written); knowledge of French is an asset
PhD 2: Biodiversity Justification
Objectives and tasks:
The PhD project (monograph or cumulative dissertation) will include the following tasks:
- Cultural and literary analysis of biodiversity narratives in science, society, and culture
- Conduct semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from biodiversity science and policy on biodiversity narratives and different forms of justification for biodiversity conservation, followed by the transcription, coding, and qualitative analysis of the interview data.
- Systematize and critically reflect on biodiversity narratives and their ethical justifications from textual and interview data
- Interdisciplinary reflection on the role of biodiversity narratives in communication and public understanding
- Organization of workshops and conferences, as well as editorial work within the project framework
- Collaboration with other research groups at the UniFR_ESH Institute and the Department of Geosciences
Candidate Profile:
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who brings the following qualifications and qualities:
- A completed master’s degree, preferably in literary or cultural studies, sociology, or philosophy (with a focus on ethics). A master’s degree in environmental humanities may also qualify
- Familiarity with methods of literary and cultural analysis as well as qualitative social science methods (e.g., interviews, thematic analysis), or a strong willingness to learn these skills quickly
- Interest in and/or experience with topics such as biodiversity, biodiversity conservation, ecology, and communication
- Enthusiasm for working in an interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment
- Excellent command of German and English (spoken and written); knowledge of French is an asset
We offer / further requirements:
- A fully funded, four-year PhD position
- The opportunity to contribute to a theoretically grounded project with direct practical relevance for biodiversity communication and conservation
- Willingness to engage with a clearly defined project while independently utilizing the available scope for initiative
- Close supervision and collaboration within the research group
- A vibrant interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research network in the environmental humanities and environmental sciences
- Participation in the activities of the department and the UniFR_ESH Institute and exchange with other PhD students
- Access to excellent research infrastructure and academic support at the University of Fribourg, and the opportunity for research stays at partner universities in Switzerland or abroad
- Attendance in the office on a minimum of two days, preferably three, is required (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday)
Application documents:
Please submit your application as a single PDF file containing:
- Curriculum vitae (including names and contact details of two referees)
- Motivation letter explaining your interest for one of the two positions
- One page that presents a biodiversity narrative in a literary text and considers how this narrative might be analyzed within the context of biodiversity debates
- Optional: A sample of research work (e.g. a chapter from your master’s thesis, research essay or paper etc.)
Deadline, procedure and start:
- Please submit your application to environment@unifr.ch by March 13
- The first round of interviews will take place online on March 31 and April 1
- On-site interviews will be held on April 13 and April 14
- The position is scheduled to start on June 1
- A project-related session at the international congress “World Biodiversity Forum” will take place in Davos from June 15 to 19; attendance is expected
For questions contact Claudia Keller by Mail
More information about the project leader and the research project:
www.biodiversitätsnarrative.ch
More information about the UniFR_ESH Institute:
The job description can here also be downloaded as PDF.
Further information
PhD program in Environmental Humanities
For positions at the University of Fribourg in general, please have a look here.