University of Fribourg

The Faculty of Science and Medicine is organized in two sections: The Science Section and the Medicine Section. The Science Section is composed of six departments (Biology, Chemistry, Geosciences, Informatics, Mathematics, Physics) and three institutes; the Medicine Section is composed of five departments and one institute (see https://www.unifr.ch/scimed/en/). The future appointee will join the Department of Geosciences.

The Department of Geosciences is currently organized into two informal units, Geography and Earth Sciences. Research is organized within 11 major research groups and 2 associated research groups. A formal agreement exists with the ‘Swiss Auxiliary Scientific Service in Geosciences’ (SSAG) JURASSICA in Porrentruy, Canton Jura, in teaching and research, mostly paleontology and sedimentology. An inter-faculty organization is furthermore hosted by the Department, the ‘Environmental Sciences and Humanities Institute’ (UniFR_ESH-Institute). The Department is headed by a President and a Vice-President, who are elected by the professors and serve a two-year term. Administration and research are supported by secretarial and technical staff. A broad pool of research equipment is organized into six centralized and shared research platforms. Major decisions are taken by the Department Council that comprises the teaching staff and representatives of the technical/administrative staff and students.

The research in the Department of Geosciences currently encompasses a broad spectrum of topics, including mineralogy & petrology, sedimentology and paleoenvironment, paleontology and paleoecology, tectonics and structural geology, micropaleontology, environmental history, environmental & climate justice, geomorphology, cryosphere & geophysics, atmosphere-cryosphere dynamics, political ecology, and ice sheets & remote sensing (see https://www.unifr.ch/geo/en/research/).

Our close vicinity to the Universities of Bern, Neuchâtel, and Lausanne offers significant collaborative synergy in terms of both research and teaching.

Homepage: https://www.unifr.ch/geo/en/

The Faculty of Science and Medicine of the University of Fribourg/Switzerland and the Department of Geosciences invite applications for an open-rank position of a Professor of Tectonics and Structural Geology.

Qualified applicants must have an outstanding track record of research in the fields of tectonics and structural geology. Research interests within these fields may include, but are not limited to, basin and foreland tectonics and dynamics, geothermal energy, geological CO2 storage, rock mechanics, and/or seismic hazards. Applicants should have experience and strong dedication to field-based research.

The successful candidate will develop an internationally recognized competitive research program sustained by external funding.

The University of Fribourg is a signatory to the DORA declaration and attaches great importance to a qualitative assessment of academic performance.

Teaching experience at university level is expected. The University of Fribourg is a bilingual university. Teaching responsibilities encompass courses delivered in French or German at the Bachelor level, and in English at the Master level. The administrative languages are German and French. Candidates only knowledgeable of one of these two languages are expected to obtain the second language to the level of B1 within two years of arrival. Candidates not knowledgeable in either language are expected to acquire one of the two languages to the level of C1 and the second language to the level of B1 oral in the same time period.

The University of Fribourg is an equal opportunity employer and strives towards gender balance and diversity at all levels.

We seek candidates per August 1st 2026 or by mutual agreement.

The closing date for applications is 31.05.2025.

Please apply exclusively through the official Faculty of Science and Medicine recruiting tool by clicking on the following link: https://scimed-recruiting.unifr.ch.

Please upload the following documents via the link above:
1. a cover / motivation letter mentioning the position for which the candidate is applying (Professor of Tectonics and Structural Geology)
2. a complete curriculum vitae, including a copy of the diploma of the highest degree
3. a full publication list (highlighting specifically the 5 most important contributions)
4. the five most important publications (“name-papers.pdf”).
5. a record of past and present funding
6. a 2-page statement of future research plans
7. a statement and record of teaching experience and interests
8. the names and full contact details of three persons who can be contacted as referees

For a detailed description of the position please visit: https://www.unifr.ch/scimed/de/faculty/positions