Post-doc position in Spatial Planning and Sustainable Land Use Development (100%)

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, Epalinges and Sion. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

Presentation

The Institute of Geography and Sustainability (IGD) seeks to fill a Post-doc position in Spatial Planning and Sustainable Land Use Development. This position is linked to the research group of 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 once (maximum 2 years)
Activity rate:       100%
Workplace:         University of Lausanne, Institute of Geography and Sustainability, Géopolis, Lausanne, Switzerland

Your activities

Cities around the globe have introduced public policy goals fostering a socio-environmentally sustainable urban transition (e.g., greening, climate adaptation, affordable housing provision). Spatial planning plays a crucial role in this context, serving as a key policy field responsible for the effective implementation of these goals at the ground level. Through planning policy, for instance, some cities have introduced densification objectives (sometimes called “no-net-land take” or “n-minutes-city”) to further prevent urban sprawl and to restrict land use development outside city boundaries. By activating planning instruments such as zoning, value capture or land acquisition, other cities have started to promote denser development while also enhancing affordable housing and urban greening.

So far, extensive planning research has explored the diverse planning cultures, histories, systems, approaches and path dependencies across countries and cities (e.g., Nadin & Stead, 2013; Stead, de Vries & Tasan-Kok, 2014). However, in international and comparative planning studies (e.g., Hartmann et al., 2025), not much is known about the mere diversity, the legal functioning, the actors’ involvement or the outcomes of local planning instruments.

The successful candidate will contribute to these research gaps by performing comparative planning research across cities through, preferably, a mixed-methods empirical approach (e.g., document analysis, surveys, interview techniques, geospatial data analysis).
In addition, the successful candidate will devote at least half of the working time to the Postdoc research, with the remaining time reserved for supporting research and teaching activities of Assistant Professor Gabriela Debrunner in the fields of spatial planning, housing research, urban studies and geography.

Your qualifications

You have an interest in researching questions and challenges of comparative spatial planning and sustainable land use in urban areas. Driven by curiosity, you seek to understand the socio-political dynamics shaping land-use development for a social-environmentally sustainable urban transition. Your interest encompasses an understanding of different planning systems and the relationships between key actors involved.

You have a background in planning, urban studies, and human geography (or equivalent) and an interest in comparative approaches. Preferably, you bring mixed-methodological skills in quantitative and qualitative social science methods (e.g., interview techniques, surveys, geospatial data analysis). Ideally, you have experience in teaching lectures and seminars at both, bachelor’s and master’s level. Good levels in English and French are expected.

Disciplinary knowledge
PhD 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.

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 2-years post-doctoral research specifically linked to the job description: spatial planning and sustainable land use development;


•    Scans of university degrees and course transcripts/marks;


•    Your full PhD thesis (or draft version if not yet fully submitted);


•    Published research papers, 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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