Junior SNSF Researcher, Life Course of Former Placed Children and Their Relatives

Introduction

A leading international teaching and research institution, UNIL has nearly 5,000 staff members and 17,000 students, distributed between the Dorigny campus and the CHUV and Epalinges sites. As an employer, it promotes excellence, recognition of individuals, and responsibility.

unil.ch/travailler

Presentation

Within the framework of the research project “ Lives after residential youth care ”, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), we are looking to complete the research team with

a junior researcher, life course of former placed children and their relatives

The appointed person will be affiliated with the Social Psychology Laboratory ( UnilaPS ) of the Institute of Psychology of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (SSP) at the University of Lausanne. They will participate in a study conducted in Luxembourg, in partnership with the Ombudsman for the Rights of Children and Adolescents , concerning the impact of minor placements on the life courses of the individuals concerned and their relatives.

Position Information

Start date: 01.10.2026 or to be agreed

Contract duration: 12 months (non-renewable)

Work rate: 80% or to be agreed

Workplace: Dorigny Campus (western Lausanne area)

Salary: according to the UNIL scale for junior SNSF researchers

Your Activities

In your role, you will notably be required to:

• Participate in disseminating a call for participation among relatives of persons placed in a State Socio-Educational Centre in Luxembourg;
• Conduct research interviews with willing relatives;
• Carry out a field survey in relevant environments, aiming to describe the conditions facilitating or hindering the sharing of placement memories;
• Participate in the documentation, contextualisation, and analysis of research interviews;
• Contribute to the preparation of a scientific publication of the results of these research activities.

Terms of Reference

Your Profile

We wish to recruit, to complete our team, a person with the following profile:

• Holder of a Master’s degree in the broad field of social sciences;
• Strong interest in the study of life stories and/or dealing with the past;
• Previous experience with qualitative interview and/or observation methods;
• Availability for regular research stays in Luxembourg;
• Comfortable working in an interdisciplinary team;
• Ability to read, write, and communicate in scientific English;
• Fluency in one or more of the usual languages at the research site (French, German, Luxembourgish);
• Ideally, good knowledge of the local socio-cultural context, or previous experience in the Luxembourg associative environment.

Your Benefits

A pleasant working environment in a multicultural and diverse academic setting.
Opportunities for continuing education, a multitude of activities, and other benefits to discover.

More information at unil.ch/travailler

For Further Information

Your Application File

Please send us your complete application file in Word or PDF format:

1. a cover letter;
2. a curriculum vitae;
3. the full text of your final thesis (dissertation or equivalent);
4. a copy of diplomas and transcripts of records.

Application deadline: 15 August 2026

Only applications submitted via this site will be considered.
Thank you for your understanding.

Remarks

UNIL is committed to:
• Equality, diversity, and inclusion within its community;
• Ensuring an open, respectful environment conducive to personal development;
• Offering working conditions favourable to balancing different spheres of life;
• Supporting the next generation of scientists.

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