Job Description

English Department

PhD position in English historical linguistics 80 %

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Start of employment is 1 Februar 2026 or upon agreement, temporary
I am inviting applications for a PhD-position in the field of English historical linguistics with a focus on mathematical/computational modelling as part of an Swiss National Science Fund (SNSF)-funded project on 'Who did What to Whom: Strategies of Argument Disambiguation in Early English' (PI: Prof. Eva Zehentner) at the English Department of the University of Zurich. Employment is initially for 3 years at 80% FTE (https://www.staff.uzh.ch/en/personal/compensation-insurance/compensation.html), with the possibility of extension to a fourth year.



The position is open to candidates with an outstanding completed MA degree who are aiming to carry out a PhD-project in a dedicated research team.

Your responsibilities

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The advertised position is part of an SNSF-project which revisits the presumed shift from synthetic to analytic means of expression between Old and Middle English. To investigate this, the project draws on recent methodological advances concerning (a) the statistical modelling of language change, and (b) the application of NLP-based tools to historical corpus data. You will be working closely with the PI and a postdoctoral researcher (Dr. Henri Kauhanen), and will be able to develop your own research profile within the project. A more detailed project description can be found at https://evazehentner.wordpress.com/www-sardeen/.

Your profile

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I am looking for motivated applicants who fit the following profile:

excellent MA in English linguistics or a related field strong interest in (and ideally experience with) historical English linguistics or related areas strong interest in (and ideally experience with) corpus work/ quantitative data analysis proficiency in English ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Information on your application

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Please submit your application in a single PDF document, including the following documents:

CV a cover letter that highlights your suitability for and interest in the position (max. 2 pages) copies of certificates (higher education diplomas) two or more reference contacts


In addition, please submit a copy of your MA thesis. The application deadline is

7 November 2025

(CET).

What we offer

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Work-Life Balance

Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing) Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH

Learning and Development

Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich

Food

Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution

Healthcare

Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ Free seasonal flu vaccinations Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower

Discounts

Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions Special conditions on hotel reservations

Conditions of Employment

Policies of the UZH Most UZH staff are employed according to public law

International Services

Support for people from outside Switzerland

Campuses

Campuses Zurich City, Zurich Irchel, Oerlikon and Schlieren Sites Zurich West, Old Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden and Lengg

Location

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English Department

Plattenstrasse 47, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland

Further information

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Questions about the job

Prof. Dr. Eva Zehentner

Working at UZH

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The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!