Social Transitions Research Group (STR), Department of Social Sciences, University of Basel

The Social Transitions Research Group (STR), led by Prof. Max Bergman, researches the dynamics of sustainable transitions at the intersection of society, governance, and technology. Through the Proof of Transition Concepts (proTract) program, the group examines real-world cases of successful sustainability transitions, focusing on how public, private, and civil society actors generate socially and ecologically positive outcomes. The aim is to produce theoretically grounded, context-sensitive, and actionable research.

STR combines this substantive focus with work in methodological development, particularly in qualitative and mixed methods research, case study research, transdisciplinary designs, and real-world labs. The group is embedded in a European research network and contributes to collaborative sustainability research within Eucor, The European Campus. The successful candidate will contribute to sustainability research and activities within Eucor, a trinational alliance of five universities in the Upper Rhine region at the border of Germany, France, and Switzerland. Its members are the Universities of Basel, Freiburg, Haute-Alsace, and Strasbourg, as well as the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

Application / Contact

Submit your application until 14. June 2026, including a cover letter stating your main research interests and experiences, CV with references, and two writing samples, using the recruiting online tool of Basel University. For more information, please contact Prof. Max Bergman. Women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply.