PhD Researcher in African Environmental History, Political Ecology or Environmental Humanities
Date of appointment September 1, 2025
The PhD will be based at the Centre for African Studies at the University of Basel and be part of the SNSF Starting Grant Project: “Curated Escapes and Derelict Landscapes in Times of Climate Change”. The research group investigates how ecological shifts create landscapes that are rhetorically or effectively becoming uninhabitable (“Derelict Landscapes”) and at the same time become captured and curated as strategies for wealthy and powerful elites to escape climate catastrophe (“Curated Escapes”). Through case studies in Namibia, South Africa, Antarctica, Mauritius, Sierra Leone and beyond, the project examines how these landscapes are shaped by colonial histories, racialised ideologies, and capitalist practices. By exploring their political ecology and environmental histories, the project engages with questions surrounding land, ecologies, and inequalities in times of climate change.
The successful candidate's appointment should begin on September 1, 2025 (a later start date is possible).
The position is limited to 1 year with the option of a 3-year extension after a successful evaluation.
Your position
- Develop and execute a PhD project with a focus on private nature conservation and/or residential eco-estates in Namibia (or maybe South Africa). Comparative projects situating Namibia within southern Africa will also be considered.
- Collaborate closely with the project team and contribute to its broader conceptual themes and align with other case studies.
- Collaborate with African universities.
- Contribute to the research, publication and dissemination activities of the project.
- The researcher will have the opportunity to engage in teaching (without formal obligation) and will join the Graduate School of Social Sciences as a member.
Your profile
- An excellent Master's degree (overall grade equivalent to at least a 5.0 in the Swiss grading system) in African Studies, History, Human Geography, or related disciplines (e.g., social anthropology, political ecology, environmental studies, cultural studies).
- Very good English language skills, knowledge of other (southern) African languages and/or German is an advantage.
- A strong interest in southern Africa's environmental history and political ecology, as well as in questions of global inequalities, colonial legacies, and the intersections between capitalism and climate change.
- Willingness to travel and to stay for extended independent research period in southern Africa.
- Experience in field and/or archival research (particularly in southern Africa) is an advantage.
We offer you
- Fully funded PhD position (salary, social benefits) in accordance with the regulations of the University of Basel
- Opportunity to develop and conduct your project independently, while being closely supported by the PI and the team and being part of a stimulating, engaged, diverse and interdisciplinary academic environment.
- A chance to contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of environmental history, political ecology, and climate change.
- Close collaboration within the project team and beyond, including conference attendance and publication opportunities.
To ensure your application is given full consideration, please submit the following documents electronically only via e-recruitment tool of the University of Basel.
- Cover letter (1 page): Highlighting personal motivation, relevant skills, and how the position aligns with the applicant's career goals.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): A detailed account of academic qualifications, research and work experience, and publications (if applicable).
- Project idea (1-2 pages): Outline a proposed idea for a research topic or case study, in the framework of the Curated Escapes project
- A writing example: e.g., chapter of MA thesis, seminar paper, or short article, blog, etc.
- Contact details for one or two academic references
- Copies of diplomas, certificates, and academic transcripts
Application Deadline: 15 March 2025
Join our dynamic, small research team and contribute to a cutting-edge project at the intersection of environmental history, political ecology, and environmental humanities. We look forward to receiving your application!
For questions please contact Luregn Lenggenhager (PI): Luregn.Lenggenhager@unibas.ch
The University of Basel is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity and encourages all qualified applications from candidates of any race, gender, sexual orientation or physical ability.
