The professors teaching the Sociology programme of the Department of Social Science supervise theses on different issues, using a variety of methods. Theses can be written in different languages. The Department gives equal priority to fundamental research in sociology as well as empirical and action or application-oriented projects. Supervision is individual or provided in the context of specific doctoral programmes: the French-language Programme Doctoral Romand en Sociologie (PDRS), funded by the Conference of Western Switzerland's Universities (CUSO), or the English, French and German-language programme Migration and Postcoloniality Meet Switzerland.

Doctoral students doing the doctoral programmes (PDRS, Migration and Postcoloniality Meet Switzerland) regularly present their work and receive feedback from national and international experts, professors and programme participants. They also have the opportunity to network with international researchers. The doctoral students are encouraged to present their work at scientific conferences and are supported in doing so.

All details (theme, method, language) are agreed with the thesis supervisor.

Professors who are eligible to supervise theses

• Prof. Esther González Martínez

Areas of specialisation:
– Language and society. Analysis of practices and social interactions
– Communication and work activities in an institutional context, particularly regarding health, justice and education; nursing work
– Ethnomethodology, analysis of conversation, multimodal analysis, video ethnography

Theses can be supervised in French, English or Spanish.

• Prof. Francesca Poglia Mileti

Areas of specialisation:
– Migration and interethnic relations. Social categorisations and identities
– Youth and intergenerational relations
– Economic, work and political sociology
– Health and gender

Theses can be supervised in French, English or Italian.

• Prof. Muriel Surdez

Areas of specialisation:
– Sociology of professional groups, work and public policy. Changing professional careers and identities
– State reforms, new public management and work of public servants, particularly in food safety policies and agricultural policies
– Construction of public problems and political sociology (political socialisation, interest groups)

Theses can be supervised in French or English.