two Ph.D. positions in economic geography / geographies of labour.

The economic geography research group (Christian Berndt and Karin Schwiter) gained the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) for a research project on

Care markets
The role of care agencies in the commodification of elderly care.

The successful applicants will contribute to this research project through their PhD theses. The project analyses the emergence of private care agencies as key drivers of the marketization of elderly care. As labour market intermediaries, these agencies hire migrant care workers and sell packaged care services to the elderly and their families. They play a key role in shaping commercialized care markets, the working conditions of migrant home care workers, and the definition of care itself as a marketable good. The study analyses their strategies and practices in order to understand the consequences of the current reconfiguration of elderly care for states, households, families, care workers and care recipients. The project compares the Swiss home care market to the commercialized care markets in Germany, Austria, Canada and the UK, where agencies have operated for a longer period of time.

We are looking for candidates with ambitions to be present internationally (publications, conferences). Amongst their tasks will be the realisation of the research project outlined above as part of a newly- created research group, limited contributions to our teaching programme and active participation in the research-related activities of our group.

Applicants should have an excellent Master’s degree in human geography or any other relevant social science discipline and be proficient in English. Active knowledge of German will be regarded as an asset. We expect the successful applicants to work on their own initiative and play a productive role in our team. We offer a stimulating and exciting work environment which provides plenty of opportunities to develop an academic career. Members of our research group profit from international contacts and opportunities to attend conferences and workshops.

The appointment is by 1st of September 2013. The position (42’000-48’000 CHF p.a.) is limited to three years. If you are interested, please send a letter of application, a full curriculum vitae, copies of relevant diplomas, two names of possible referees and a writing sample (20 pages max., e.g. chapter of master thesis) in a single pdf file by e-mail to Perscheng Assef ([log in to unmask]). Applications can be submitted in German or English. Please direct informal inquiries to Karin Schwiter ([log in to unmask] / +41 44 635 52 14).

Closing date: 25 Mai 2013

-- 
Dr. Karin Schwiter
Senior Research and Teaching Associate

Department of Geography
University of Zurich 
Winterthurerstrasse 190
CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland

Phone +41 44 635 52 14
Mobile +41 76 442 32 76
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