PhD position in Spatial Planning and Housing

Introduction

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

Presentation

The Institute of Geography and Sustainability (IGD) seeks to fill a PhD position in Spatial Planning and Housing (80%). This position will be supervised by Assistant Professor Gabriela Debrunner at the IGD.
The IGD is an interdisciplinary community of about 130 academics that work in the fields of Geography and Sustainability. With 27 professors and lecturers, and more than 60 PhD students and Post-docs, the department offers a vibrant, stimulating environment for cutting-edge research. It hosts regular lecture series and distinguished guest researchers from around the world.

Job information

Starting date:      August 1st, 2025 (or to be agreed)
Contract length:  1 year, renewable 2 x 2 years, maximum 5 years
Activity rate:        80%
Workplace:         University of Lausanne, Institute of Geography and Sustainability, Géopolis, Lausanne, Switzerland

Your activities

The provision of affordable and adequate housing remains a fundamental challenge in urban development worldwide. Residents across both lower- and middle-income groups face growing difficulties in finding, accessing, and securing housing—not only in urban core centers but also in suburban agglomerations and popular mountainous tourist regions. These exclusionary housing dynamics have contributed to gentrification, segregation, and socio-economic polarization, often fueling urban social movements and, in some cases, political riots in cities and countries around the globe. This PhD research aims to examine housing issues through the lens of spatial planning by integrating public policy and new institutional analysis with insights from housing studies, urban research, and geography, among other disciplines.
The successful candidate will devote at least half of their working time to their PhD research, with the remaining time reserved for supporting research and teaching of Assistant Professor Gabriela Debrunner in the fields of spatial planning, housing, urban studies and geography.

Your interests and qualifications

You are interested in exploring the challenges and complexities of spatial planning, housing and urban development in cities worldwide. Driven by curiosity and an open mindset, you seek to understand the socio-political dynamics influencing land-use development for affordable, adequate, and equitable housing.

You have a background in urban and planning studies, human geography (or equivalent), and an interest in comparative approaches. Mixed-methodological skills including both, quantitative and qualitative social science methods (e.g., interview techniques, surveys, geospatial data analysis) are welcome. Good levels in English and French are expected.

Disciplinary knowledge (Master certificate or equivalent)
Master in Spatial and/or Urban Planning, Human Geography, Urban Studies, Political Science, Urban Sociology or similar.

What the position offers you

The University of Lausanne, Institute of Geography and Sustainability, offers a stimulating work environment and atmosphere, with dedicated support for developing an academic career. Members of our institute become part of international networks and benefit from opportunities to attend conferences and workshops around the world.

Your application

Deadline: 30.04.2025 (recruitment interviews will take place on May 22nd and 23rd 2025 in Lausanne)

Please submit the following documents in PDF format only via the career website of the University of Lausanne:

•    Motivation letter (maximum 1-1 ½ pages);


•    Full CV (maximum 3 pages);


•    A short proposal (2-3 pages) for doctoral research specifically linked to the job description: spatial planning and housing;


•    Scans of university degrees and course transcripts/marks;


•    Your full Master thesis;


•    A research paper, if available.

Only applications submitted through the career website will be considered.

Contact for further information

Assistant Professor Gabriela Debrunner (E-Mail schreiben) 

Additional information

UNIL is committed to:
•    equality, diversity and inclusion within its community;
•    ensuring an open and respectful environment that is conducive to personal development;
•    offering working conditions that facilitate work-life balance;
•    supporting early career researchers.

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