Doctoral Position in Strategic Communication (Research and Teaching Assistant)

The Department of Communication and Media Research (IKMZ) with around 80 employees, is one of the largest and most successful communication science institutes in Europe, providing excellent infrastructure for research and teaching, an inspiring academic environment, and excellent employment conditions. The University of Zurich also offers numerous opportunities for further education and diverse interdisciplinary cooperation possibilities.
The research group “Strategic Communication & Media Management” (Prof. Dr. Nadine Strauß) at IKMZ is seeking to fill a doctoral position.
The position is for 3 years, with a possible extension of 1-3 years.

Your responsibilities

• Conduct high-quality research in the field of strategic communication
• Complete a dissertation in four years
• Attend academic conferences and publish in academic journals in the field
• Collaborate in existing projects and develop new projects with members of the team “Strategic Communication & Media Management”
• Research and teach in innovative areas of strategic communication and neighboring areas
• Teach one class per semester relevant to your research interests in our BA programs
• Engage in further academic qualifications
• Handle organizational and administrative tasks

Your profile

• Excellent Master's degree in Communication Science or related areas
• Strong interest in strategic communication and related fields such as organizational communication, corporate communication, public relations, or investor relations
• High affinity towards topics like artificial intelligence, sustainability, management, strategy, public affairs, finance, or related topics
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative methods and data analysis (e.g., content analysis, surveys, experiments, interviews); first experiences in computational methods
• Good command of R and/or Python
• Strong command of English (spoken and written)
• A scientific and open mindset, careful and reliable working method, capacity for working independently, strong affinity for cooperative collaboration, and excellent time and project management skills
• Willingness to move to Zurich and travel internationally to engage with relevant scientific communities

Information on your application

Please send the following documents through the “Apply-Now-Button” in one PDF file:

• A letter of motivation (1 page) addressing the match between your profile and the position
• Curriculum Vitae
• 1-2 page outline of a potential dissertation idea that could fit the division's profile
• Copies of transcripts, degrees, relevant certificates
• A full-text example of a representative academic work (e.g., MA thesis, research or term paper)
• Contact details of two academic referees who can speak to your academic qualifications

Deadline for applications is May 15th, 2026.

(Online) interviews are planned to take place in June 2026. The vacancy remains open until a suitable candidate has been found.

Wir bieten

• 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