Ph.D. student position in Tourism and Digital Media
Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) is a young and lively university, a hub of opportunities
open to the world where students are offered a quality interdisciplinary education in which
they can be fully engaged and take central stage, and where our researchers can count on
having the space to freely pursue their initiative.
USI is well ranked in the two leading global academic rankings, the Quacquarelli Symonds
World University Rankings (QS) and the Times Higher Education (THE). Recently, it has
been ranked 32nd worldwide in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings.
The Institute of Digital Technologies for Communication invites applications for a fully funded
Ph.D. position in Communication Sciences, in the field of Tourism and Digital Media.
The successful candidate will work in the frame of USI's UNESCO Chair in ICT to develop
and promote sustainable tourism in World Heritage Sites, and will collaborate in the EU
project "SECreTour - Sustainable, Engaging and CREative Tourism as a driver for a better
future in rural and remote areas", of which USI is a partner.
While the specific topic of the thesis is still open, and has to be agreed with the supervisor
and approved by the relevant Faculty committees, it will address how digital media can be
leveraged in order to promote sustainable cultural tourism in remote areas, involving the
local communities.
The Ph.D. Position
The doctoral student will be enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Communication Sciences.
He/she will work under the scientific supervision of Prof. Lorenzo Cantoni. The successful
candidate will be offered the possibility to work in a dynamic research team and in a
multidisciplinary and international scientific environment.
The salary levels correspond to those set by the Swiss National Science Foundation for PhD
researchers.
It will also include the payment of the academic fee and conference attendance.
Annual renewal is not automatic, but contingent on satisfactory progress.
Candidates’ profile
The ideal candidate should satisfy the following requirements:
A Master degree in a relevant area (including Media and Communication, Tourism, Heritage,
Cultural Studies, Marketing, Social Sciences, Education), finished with top marks prior to
appointment, within the last three years
page 2/2High motivation for academic research
Interest in online communication, specifically in the tourism domain
Ability to work independently and to plan and direct own work
Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate in teams
Fluency in Italian, as part of the research will be conducted in Tessin, knowledge of other
Swiss languages is beneficialC1 level in both oral and written English (the official language of the Ph.D. program)
Admission to the Ph.D. program is highly competitive. Admission decisions are based on the
candidate’s background, interests, attitude and potential for academic achievement.
Successful enrolment in the Ph.D. program and the position as doctoral researcher are not
compatible with a further concurrent professional activity.
The successful candidate will take the role of a junior researcher at the UNESCO Chair in
ICT to develop and promote sustainable tourism in World Heritage Sites and will have the
possibility to interact with an international network of collaborators. The candidate will
collaborate on teaching activities at USI.
The workplace is USI in Lugano, Switzerland.
The successful candidate will ideally start his/her collaboration and research activities in the
second half of 2024.
The Application
Applications should contain (1) a two-pages letter in which the applicants describe both (a)
their research interests and (b) their motivation to apply; (2) a CV; (3) copies of relevant
diplomas, certificates as well as the full transcript of records that prove the candidates’
eligibility for doctoral studies in Communication Sciences; and (4) the names of two
academic references that can be contacted for further information.
Please send your application in one single pdf document to prof. Lorenzo Cantoni
(lorenzo.cantoni@usi.ch) with the subject “Ph.D. in Tourism and Digital Media”.
The call is open until the place is filled.
Applications received by May 10, 2024, will be given priority.
USI strives to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer and is further responsive
to the needs of dual career couples. We guarantee that the selection process will give equal
opportunities to female and male researchers.
As an institution that values diversity, USI particularly encourages applications from women
and from all individuals from underrepresented groups.
Lugano, March 13, 2024
CH-6900 Lugano / Lugano
