Professorship for Africa – Europe in the long 20th Century

Department of History

Professorship for Africa – Europe in the long 20th Century 100 %

Start of employment 1 August 2027, permanent employment

The University of Zurich invites applications for a professorship for Africa – Europe in the long 20th century (open rank). The position should be filled by 1 August

Depending on the qualifications of the appointee, the professorship will be filled as a full professorship, associate professorship or assistant professorship with tenure track.

The applicant is expected to have a proven focus on the history of sub-Saharan African societies and their complex relations with Europe and the world. The research and teaching of the professorship should cover the period between the late 19th and early 21st century encompassing colonialism, the decolonization phase and the postcolonial era. The professorship will be responsible for establishing the new research field Africa – Europe in the long 20th century at the Department of History, with a focus for example on the history of armed conflicts, cultural, economic, environmental history or history of gender, labour, migration, and politics. In addition to the focus on Africa's relations to Europe, research perspectives on South-South relations and the asymmetrical Africa-Asia connection are also welcome.

In addition to innovative research in the subject area, we expect the successful candidate to participate in interdisciplinary collaborations with other professors at the Department of History, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and with national and international institutions.

Candidates must hold a PhD degree at the time of application and have an excellent and internationally visible record of academic achievements in African History. Depending on the status at the time of application, a second book or advanced research in the history of Africa – Europe in the long 20th century is expected. Teaching languages are English and German. Non-German speaking candidates are expected to acquire a professional knowledge of German within the first three years of their appointment. The Department of History, the University of Zurich and Zurich as a university location offer a stimulating research and teaching environment with opportunities for professional exchange and cooperation. The University of Zurich is an equal opportuni-ties employer and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.

Applications must be submitted online by 13 January 2026. Access and information about the online application can be found on the website of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. For additional information about the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Monika Dommann, Head of the Department of History.

What we offer

Work-Life Balance

• Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing)
• Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH

Learning and Development

• Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich
• Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich

Food

• Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias
• Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution

Healthcare

• Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ
• Free seasonal flu vaccinations
• Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower

Discounts

• Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space
• Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions
• Special conditions on hotel reservations

Conditions of Employment

• Policies of the UZH
• Most UZH staff are employed according to public law

International Services

• Support for people from outside Switzerland

Campuses

• Campuses Zurich City, Zurich Irchel, Oerlikon and Schlieren
• Sites Zurich West, Old Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden and Lengg

Location
Department of History

Karl-Schmid-Strasse 4, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland

Further information
Questions about the job

Prof. Dr. Monika Dommann

Working at UZH

The University of Zurich offers a wide range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and 12 professional apprenticeship streams, Switzerland's largest university provides an inspiring working environment at the vanguard of research and education. Find out more about UZH as an employer

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