In response to the worldwide acceleration of social change, the University of Basel, Switzerland's oldest university, founded the Forum Basiliense, a research center and platform for interdisciplinary dialogue. Now we are putting out our third call for applications for fellowships in Basel. In 2026, the intellectual focus for the groups of international fellows and guests at the Forum Basiliense will be “Conflict and Cooperation”. With this theme, the Forum Basiliense will be addressing the numerous conflicts and crises in the contemporary world. In this interdisciplinary space, ongoing scholarly engagement with conflicts and their dynamics can establish dialogues with research on exemplary forms of cooperation and the conceptual foundations of cooperative action. This dual focus deliberately combines two conceptual fields in order to reflect on how problems of conflict and cooperation relate to and illuminate each other.

We encourage applications focused on this theme in any of the disciplines represented at the University of Basel.

Your assignments

We invite fellows for visits of three to six months during 2026, preferably during the spring or the autumn term. Fellows are expected to participate in events and in scientific exchange (a regular colloquium) during their stay.

Your profile

You hold an excellent PhD or a junior professorship in any of the disciplines represented at the University of Basel. Fellowships are awarded based on scientific merit, the quality of the application, and how the application speaks to the theme of "Conflict and Cooperation". We welcome applications from all over the world.

We offer you

The Forum Basiliense is a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative platform. We strive to be an inclusive, supportive, and enthusiastic work environment for a team of fellows with diverse interests and personal backgrounds. The medium-sized city of Basel, which is located at the tri-national border of Switzerland, Germany, and France, is known for its high quality of life, multilingual inhabitants, international flair, and rich cultural environment.

The fellowships offer an exciting opportunity for highly motivated and proficient PostDoctoral scholars to contribute to a vibrant research community, expand their personal networks, and advance their own projects. As a fellow, you will be part of the lively and active research environment at the University of Basel and take part in scientific and academic events organized by the Forum Basiliense.

The fellowship grant offers CHF 5000 per month for the duration of your stay in Basel, travel costs, office space, subsidized accommodation at the University guest house, and other benefits.

Application / Contact

Please include the following documents in your application:

Project proposal (3-5 pages max.) describing what you plan to accomplish during your fellowship. Please indicate your contribution to debates around "Conflict and Cooperation" and include how long you would like to stay in Basel (3-6 months).
CV including publication list
One contact at the University of Basel
2 reference letters

We look forward to receiving your completed application by 31 July 2025 via the University's online application portal.

For inquiries, please contact Dr. Julia Büchele (j.buechele@unibas.ch)

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Forum Basiliense Junior Fellows