Starting Date: 1 September 2016

Applicants are invited to join an international team in the Humanities in the European Research Area (HERA, www.heranet.info) funded project, ‘East Asian Uses of the European Past: Tracing Braided Chronotypes’. The appointee will be based at the Historisches Seminar, University of Zurich, and work under Zurich’s Principal Investigator, Prof. Dr. Martin Dusinberre (Global History with a speciality in East Asian History). At the same time, she/he will be expected to work closely with the University of Zurich’s other HERA collaborators: Heidelberg University, the London School of Economics, and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and local partners.

Applicants are expected to propose a post-doctoral project within the broad theme of the HERA project (for a brief summary of research aims, see here: http://www.hist.uzh.ch/fachbereiche/neuzeit/lehrstuehle/dusinberre/hera.html). The University of Zurich’s sub-theme is ‘Decline and Fall’, with a focus on 19th and 20th-century Japanese history: post-doctoral researchers working on the history of Japanese imperialism and/or Japanese industrialization are particularly encouraged to apply.

During the three-year project, the appointee will be employed on an 80% contract (non-renewable) by the University of Zurich and will be treated as a normal employee of the university. She/he will be provided with workspace and access to the University of Zurich’s outstanding research resources. She/he will join one of Europe’s leading history departments (seventeen chairs), with thriving postgraduate and postdoctoral communities. The position offers attractive working conditions, including dedicated office space for the Chair of Global History, and a salary according to the guidelines of the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Essential qualifications and experience:
- Completed PhD dissertation by 1 September 2016
- Fluency in reading post-1868 Japanese sources
- Native or near-native ability in Academic English
- Ability to work in an international team
- Time management, especially the ability to meet deadlines

Desirable experience:
- Design and/or management of Digital Humanities projects
- Previous contribution to international research projects
- Fluency in other European and/or East Asian languages
- Collaboration with non-university partners (e.g. museums, schools)

How to apply:
- Interested applicants should send one PDF file consisting of a cover letter, CV, a two-page HERA research proposal, and an academic writing sample (in English, up to 40 pages) to Martin Dusinberre (globalhistory@hist.uzh.ch). Applicants are also responsible for ensuring that two confidential academic letters of reference are sent directly to globalhistory@hist.uzh.ch by the application deadline.
- The application deadline is midday (CET), Thursday, 23 June 2016.
- Interviews with shortlisted candidates (by Skype and/or in person) will be held on Tuesday, 5 July 2016.

For further questions, please contact Prof. Dusinberre (globalhistory@hist.uzh.ch).