PhD position in evolutionary anthropology and medicine

Submitted: 11/15/2024
Submitted By: Adrian Jaeggi
Department: Evolutionary medicine
Institution: University of Zurich
Job type: Other
Apply by: 01/31/2025
Application Email:
Application URL:

The Human Ecology Group of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine (IEM) at the University of Zurich, led by Adrian Jaeggi, is inviting applications from prospective PhD students. Applicants must hold a master’s degree by the time of the appointment, and will earn their PhD through the evolutionary biology PhD program (https://www.evobio.uzh.ch/en.html). The ideal candidate has a background in evolutionary biology, anthropology, or related fields, with a strong interest in working on human behavior, biology and health. Applicants are encouraged to propose their own projects, that would ideally synergize well with the group’s core interests and strengths in behavioral ecology, social evolution, behavioral endocrinology, and human biological variation, with topics of current research including cooperation and conflict, life history variation, personality and neurodiversity, oxytocin (and other hormones), stress and mental health. Empirically, we conduct quantitative anthropological fieldwork among the Indigenous Tsimane people of lowland Bolivia, but other approaches and/or field sites will be considered. Our group also has recognized strengths in statistical methods, especially phylogenetic comparative analyses and multilevel modeling more broadly. For more information on the group and the IEM visit https://www.iem.uzh.ch/en/research.html. The position is fully funded for two years (annual salary of ~50’000 Swiss francs), with partial funding for another two years that will need to be augmented by intramural or extramural grants (see e.g. https://www.research.uzh.ch/en/funding/phd.html). Interested applicants are welcome to reach out to Prof. Jaeggi (adrian.jaeggi@iem.uzh.ch), or indeed to other group members, with any questions and to discuss possible projects. Applicants should submit 1) a cover letter describing their background and motivation for applying to this position as well as the research project they would like to propose, 2) a CV, 3) a writing sample (e.g. master thesis, journal article), 4) transcripts showing all university courses taken, and 5) names and contact information of up to three references. Start date is flexible, though the position would ideally be filled by mid 2025. Review of applications will begin by January 31, 2025, but later submissions may be considered until the position is filled.