2 Postdoc positions (focus Canada and focus Japan) in the SNSF Starting Grant Project “Provisional Futures: Migrants as wanted workers, yet temporary residents”

Two part-time postdoc roles at the University of Zurich focusing on Canada or Japan within an SNSF-funded migration study. The position involves leading fieldwork, conducting interviews, and producing academic publications.

The University of Zurich is seeking two postdoctoral researchers to lead specific work packages within the SNSF Starting Grant project titled “Provisional Futures: Migrants as wanted workers, yet temporary residents.” Each researcher will focus on either Canada or Japan, conducting ethnographic studies on temporary labor migration in the IT, healthcare, and construction sectors under the supervision of the Principal Investigator at the Department of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the designated work package for either Canada or Japan, focusing on temporary labor migration across IT, healthcare, and construction sectors.
• Execute ethnographic research, including in-depth interviews with migrant workers, workplace observations, and stakeholder discussions with employers, policymakers, union representatives, and support organizations.
• Conduct two extended periods of field research in the assigned country.
• Produce single-authored articles and collaborate on joint research outputs.
• Mentor and guide research assistants and PhD researchers within the team.
• Design and manage your own work package independently.
• Contribute to theoretical discussions at the intersection of migration studies, socio-cultural diversification, and future work.
• Collaborate with an international, interdisciplinary research team.
• Serve as co-guest-editor for a special issue in a major field journal.
• Co-organize a stakeholder workshop in your country of expertise.

Requirements

• PhD in Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, Migration Studies, or a related social science discipline with a focus on migration and mobility.
• Knowledge of temporary migration, immigrant integration, and labor market institutions in Canada or Japan.
• Strong qualitative research skills, including experience with in-depth interviews and ethnographic observations.
• Solid training in anthropology or other relevant social science theoretical approaches.
• Excellent academic writing and publication skills.
• Strong organizational, communication, and event coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and timelines effectively.
• For the Japan position: Demonstrated fluency in spoken and written Japanese.

Nice to have

• Experience with academic management, scientific outreach, and creative methods.
• Knowledge of the migratory landscape in IT, healthcare, and construction in Canada or Japan.
• Training and experience in comparative research.
• International research experience.
• Fluency in languages other than English.

What the company offers

• Access to free trainings and courses offered at the University of Zurich.
• Opportunity to take on greater responsibilities over time and develop mentoring and leadership skills.
• Hosting by overseas collaborating institutions to broaden academic networks.

About the company

The University of Zurich stands as Switzerland's largest university, providing an inspiring working environment centered on cutting-edge research and top-class education.

• Switzerland's largest university.
• Inspiring working environment focused on cutting-edge research and top-class education.