Job Description
The Faculty of Law (University Research Priority Program (URPP) “Human Reproduction Reloaded” | H2R) is seeking to fill a doctoral position.
As part of the strategic direction of research at the University of Zurich, the University Research Priority Program (URPP) “Human Reproduction Reloaded” | H2R will conduct eight years (2021–2028) of research into rapidly changing medical technology for human reproduction and its sociological, societal, ethical, and legal implications. This interdisciplinary research priority program is based at the Faculty of Law and brings together researchers from six faculties and various disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, medicine, and natural sciences. Phase 2 of the research priority program (2025–2028) will focus on three core topics: family, kinship, and gender; declining fertility and non-reproduction; and CRISPR.
Further information on the research priority program, the people involved, the research, and previous activities can be found at: URPP
Tasks
- You are writing a doctoral thesis in the field of private law and human reproduction.
- You will participate in the research focus’s events and actively utilize the opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange and cross-faculty networking.
- You are prepared to apply for third-party funding to complete your doctoral thesis after two years.
profile
- You have an excellent degree in law.
- You have a strong interest in researching legal issues related to human reproduction in one or more of the following legal areas: family law, private international law, comparative law, and/or human rights. If you would like to conduct research at the interface of these legal areas with other legal areas, you are also welcome to apply.
- You are fluent in German as an academic working language and able to communicate in an English-speaking environment. Alternatively, you are fluent in English as an academic working language; additional knowledge of German is desirable.
- You are an enthusiastic person with a team spirit and strong initiative and can work in an international and interdisciplinary environment.
Information about the application
We offer you
- Focus on your doctoral thesis and regular feedback from qualified colleagues and experts from the various disciplines involved.
- A stimulating environment with the highest level of expertise from all areas relevant to the research question, as well as excellent opportunities for networking with experts and the public.
- Attractive employment conditions (SNF conditions, limited to 3 years), including flexible working hours.
Your application should include the following documents: CV including publications (if applicable); outline for a dissertation project in the field of law and human reproduction (see details below); letter of motivation; master’s thesis (preliminary version, if applicable) or seminar paper, or, if these are not available in English or German, another comparable text written by you; academic certificates (transcript of records) from bachelor’s and master’s studies or certificates of a comparable degree (especially the state examination).
The outline should be structured as follows: 1. Problem statement – please explain the background of the project and the scientific and/or societal problem you intend to address in your research (max. 500 words); 2. Research question – please describe the central research question and the sub-questions (max. 300 words); 3. Research design and methodology – please describe the proposed research and its objectives, define the research design and methods, and explain the relationship between the proposed research questions and the methodology (max. 1,000 words); 4. References – please explain how your research fits into the existing literature (max. 400 words); 5. Originality – please explain how your research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge (max. 400 words). 6. Timeline – please describe the work plan, including a timeline. The word limit does not apply to footnotes.
Application deadline: September 5, 2025, only electronically and as a single PDF document to jobs@humanreproduction.uzh.ch – or click the “Apply now” button.
