As part of the University of Zurich’s strategic orientation, the interdisciplinary University Research Priority Program (URPP) “Digital Religion(s)” investigates, over the period 2021-2032, how current dynamics of digitalization influence, shape, and transform the religious practices of individuals and institutions. In particular, it examines how individual and institutional actors communicate religiously in hybrid online-offline formats and make their public claim to social orientation.
The cluster “Post-Digital Religious Education”, which will run from 1 January 2025 as one of four sub-areas of the URPP, deals with the dynamics and effects of digital technologies on religious education and processes of inter- and trans-religious teaching and learning, with a particular focus on adolescents and young adults. It pays special attention to aspects of digital religious competence in formal and non-formal educational contexts (school, church, and religious communities) and researches these using various empirical methods and experimental settings (www.meeetlab.uzh.ch).
Within the cluster, the media and visual culture studies research project “Synthetic Realities: Generative AI and Digital Visual Literacy” (project leader: Prof Dr Roland Meyer) focuses on the effects of generative AI on religious education and learning processes. In light of the proliferation of AI-generated images and videos on social media, the project examines current forms of digital visual literacy in dealing with religious and religion-related visual online content. How do teenagers and young adults navigate these newly emerging synthetic image worlds? What strategies of interpretation and authentication do they use? What role can religious education play in the development of digital visual literacy?
The URPP “Digital Religion(s)” offers a stimulating position in a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary, and excellent research program of high academic, political, and social topicality and relevance. We offer you the opportunity to collaborate with an inspiring network of outstanding researchers from various disciplines, career opportunities within and outside academia, and an attractive workplace in the center of Zurich.
The position is initially limited to four years.
Your responsibilities
- The position allows you to conduct your own research to obtain academic qualifications (habilitation or second book).
- You will be co-responsible for the planning and implementation of the media and visual culture studies research project “Synthetic Realities: Generative AI and Digital Visual Literacy” and participate in the thematic and methodological linking and evaluation of the results of the four individual projects within the “Post-Digital Religious Education” cluster (theology/religious studies, educational science, communication studies, media and visual culture studies).
- Your core tasks include the academic and broader publication of the results of the research cluster, for example through social media appearances and “Science Goes Public” formats.
- In addition, you will participate in the activities of the entire URPP research consortium, particularly through further interdisciplinary collaboration beyond the individual clusters.
- In agreement with the cluster project leaders and immediate supervisors, you are expected to be willing to acquire third-party funding, help organize workshops and actively participate in national and international conferences.
Your profile
- You have an excellent doctoral degree in media studies, art history, cultural studies, or a related discipline and a research focus on digital image cultures.
- Knowledge of qualitative-empirical methods, especially media ethnographic methods, is welcome.
- Ideally, you have already dealt with questions and phenomena of digital religious practice and their scholarly reflection.
- Fluency in English is a prerequisite; knowledge of other national languages is an advantage.
- The University of Zurich aims to increase the proportion of women on all academic career levels and expressly encourages qualified female scholars to apply.