As part of the SNSF funded project « Democratizing the Economy through Consumers: Consumer-Owned Food Retailers and their Potentials for Fostering Economic Democracy », the Institute of sociology at the University Neuchâtel is looking for a SNSF doctoral student in sociology (80-100%).

• Start date: 01.09.2024
• Duration of contract: 01.09.2024-31.08.2028 (48 months)
• Work language: French and English
• Place of work: Institut de sociologie, Faubourg de l’Hôpital 27, 2000 Neuchâte, Switzerland

Job Description

The person will participate in the project "Democratizing the Economy through Consumers: Consumer-Owned Food Retailers and their Potentials for Fostering Economic Democracy," funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, and will carry out a doctoral thesis within this framework. This project broadens the view of economic democracy by approaching it from a rarely discussed angle: that of consumers. It examines how consumer-owned food retailers contribute to democratizing the economy by looking at the implementation of democratic practices within these organizations and analyzing how the latter transform practices beyond their own organization. The study includes a quantitative part with a questionnaire to be distributed to consumer-owned food retailers in Switzerland, France and Germany, as well as a qualitative part based on three case studies of food cooperatives in Neuchâtel, Paris and Berlin. The recruited PhD student will be mainly involved in the qualitative part and will conduct fieldwork in at least two of the three cities. In addition to contributing to the joint project, the candidate will write a doctoral thesis in the field of economic sociology / sociology of organizations / sociology of social movements / sociology of consumption under the supervision of Prof. Philip Balsiger.

This position offers

• A four-year fixed-term contract
• Interesting and varied work in an active and interdisciplinary team
• Employment conditions in accordance with the SNSF, with the requirement to write a thesis related to the topic of the broader research project.
• Salary according to the standards of the University of Neuchâtel and the SNSF
• A 100% employment rate for the dissertation, which may be reduced to 80% due to care duties.
• The opportunity to work in international networks and to develop advanced skills in sociology.
• The opportunity to work in a rapidly growing field and to make contacts in this professional environment.

Required title and desired profile

• Master's degree in sociology or related discipline (anthropology, political science, geography, or other related disciplines), to be obtained no later than the start date of the position.
• A background in qualitative methods
• Interest in sociological analysis of social movements and alternative economic organizations
• Initiative, autonomy, ability to work in a team
• Excellent writing skills
• Fluency in French and English
• German is an asset

Application

• Curriculum vitae, letter of application, indication of a reference person
• 1 to 2-page outline of a possible thesis project related to the overall topic of the research project.
• Summary of the Master's thesis and an electronic version of the thesis
• Copy of academic degrees

All files should be sent in electronic form to messagerie.socio@unine.ch - subject "PhD Consumer Democracy".

Application deadline: May 31, 2024

Interviews with selected candidates will take place on Thursday June 13, preferably in person.

For further information, please contact Prof. Philip Balsiger (philip.balsiger@unine.ch).

To promote diversity among its staff, the University of Neuchâtel is committed to offering non-discriminatory working conditions.

(This is an English translation of the French version. There is only one open position)