PhD Position in Medical / Legal Humanities / Cultural Studies (m/f/d)
Your tasks
Project Description
This PhD project will investigate how personal stories-as told in cultural productions such as films, memoirs, documentaries, literature, and media-shape and influence law-making on assisted dying across different jurisdictions. Grounded in a comparative law perspective, the research will engage with multiple national or regional legal contexts to assess:
- Which stories are heard in debates and legislation around assisted dying.
- The role of law-maker privilege in determining whose voices count in policy-making.
- The cultural dimensions of law-making, including how societal narratives and symbolic representations affect legal outcomes.
- The influence and privilege of cultural actors-writers, filmmakers, journalists, and others-in shaping public discourse and legal reform.
We seek an innovative and critical scholar who can contribute to the growing field of medical humanities while addressing pressing ethical, cultural, and legal questions around end-of-life care.
Your profile
Required qualifications:
- A Master's degree in a relevant field
- Excellent academic record
- Training in qualitative and/or textual analysis
- Familiarity with or interest in legal theory, medical ethics, or bioethics
- Strong writing and communication skills in English
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Applicants will pursue their doctoral studies within the DOK Ph.D. Programme in Organization Studies and Cultural Theory at the University of St. Gallen (www.dok.unisg.ch). Please ensure that you meet the formal admission requirements for the program by contacting zulassung@unisg.ch. Kindly include the confirmation email from the Admissions Office with your application materials.
Desirable qualifications:
- Knowledge of, or interest in, multiple legal or cultural contexts
- Knowledge of languages other than English
- Experience with interdisciplinary research
- Interest in assisted dying, end-of-life policy, or narrative medicine
What We Offer:
A 3–year fully funded PhD position (100%)
Integration into a dynamic, interdisciplinary research team
Opportunities for international research and conference participation
Supervision from leading scholars in medical humanities, law, and cultural studies
How to Apply
Please submit the following documents in a single PDF file:
•Cover Letter (max. 2 pages), outlining your interest in the topic and your approach to the proposed research
•CV, including academic background and relevant experience
•A writing sample (e.g. MA thesis chapter or article)
•Names and contact details of two academic referees
•Email confirming that formal requirements to be admitted to DOK program are met
Deadline for applications: 31 July 2025
Inquiries should be sent to: anna.elsner@unisg.ch
Applications in one single PDF should be sent to: alexander.meienberger@unisg.ch
We strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in academia.
Inspirational Work Environment
Executive Education
Network
Family & Career
Equal Opportunities
Fit and Healthy
Inspirational Work Environment
At the HSG, as Europe's leading business university, we operate in an entrepreneurial environment where you will meet highly qualified, ambitious experts - both regionally and internationally. For example, you benefit from a modern IT infrastructure and, in our library via HSGswisscovery, from nationwide access to the wealth of scientific information available.
Executive Education
We support internal and external executive education opportunities. Our internal executive education programme offers you a practical, dedicated and didactically mature transfer of knowledge in the form of seminars, e-learning, coaching and collegial advice. We support task-specific external training and executive education financially as well as with regard to the time required.
Network
We promote our culture of cross-functional collaboration and create space for forging valuable relationships - also with external partners. Regular exchanges and internal events help to strengthen these relationships and make them long-lasting.
Family & Career
We provide our employees with flexible work time models with a variable number of hours per week. As a family-friendly employer, we offer part-time positions, 16 weeks of maternity leave and a subsidised crèche, as well as support with childcare during the vacations.
Equal Opportunities
The University enables equal opportunities for all employees and students. This applies to degree courses and work, as well as academic careers, university management positions and the reconciliation of studies, work and private commitments. We are committed to this with various measures in the areas of teaching, research, administration and the Presidency.
Fit and Healthy
We help you stay fit and healthy. In addition to our diverse range of sports activities at the university, most of which are free of charge, and campaign weeks for corporate health management, we also offer you fruit in the workplace. In our canteen you will find a wide selection of freshly prepared meals - from vegetarian to fish dishes - at discounted prices.
Further information on working at the HSG can be found here.
For job-related questions
Associate Professor Medical Humanities
I am delighted that you are interested in this position at our University and would be pleased to meet you soon.
Executive Director GCE-HSG
I would be very pleased to welcome you at the University of St.Gallen very soon. I will gladly answer any questions you may have.
Your place of work
University of St.Gallen
«A place where knowledge is created» - As one of Europe's leading universities of economics and business administration, the University of St.Gallen (HSG), Switzerland, is committed to the education of over 9800 students. The HSG is one of the largest employers in the region and provides an attractive and innovative environment for more than 3300 researchers, educators and professional staff.
