Doctoral Position in Food Waste Supply Chains at ETH Zürich ETH Zürich invites applications for a PhD position in Food Waste Supply Chains, jointly appointed in the Food Systems Economics and Policy group (FSEP, led by Prof. Eva-Marie Meemken) and the Global Health Engineering group (GHE, led by Prof. Elizabeth Tilley). The successful candidate will work on the FLOWERS project (Facilitating Local Organic Waste Exchange for Regenerative Systems), which aims to address the disconnect between nutrient-rich urban organic waste and nutrient-poor rural soils in rapidly urbanizing areas of Uganda and Malawi. The project focuses on mapping and analyzing organic waste flows from restaurants, food vendors, and university canteens, identifying supply chain interventions to increase the trade and reuse of organic waste, and piloting scalable waste treatment solutions such as composting, Black Soldier Fly farming, and anaerobic digestion. The research will generate comparative evidence on barriers and enablers across different systems and provide insights into the scalability and replicability of solutions for other urbanizing regions. The PhD student will develop a doctoral proposal, plan and implement surveys and qualitative interviews with supply chain actors, analyze data, and disseminate findings through scientific papers, presentations, and outreach activities. The position involves several months of fieldwork in Uganda and offers a stimulating research environment with opportunities for skill development and professional networking. The appointment is for four years, with salary and social benefits according to ETH Zurich rules. Eligibility: Applicants must hold (or be close to completing) a MSc degree in development or agricultural economics or a related field, with experience in collecting survey data. Strong skills in statistics, econometrics, and data analysis are required, as well as excellent English language proficiency. Candidates should be able to work independently and collaboratively. Application Process: Applications must be submitted online via the ETH Zurich application portal by February 27, 2026. Required documents include a CV (max. 2 pages), diplomas, MSc thesis or term paper, a summary of the MSc thesis (max. 1 page), and contact details for two scientific references. A link to a GitHub repository is optional. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered. For questions, contact Prof. Eva-Marie Meemken ([email protected]) or Prof. Elizabeth Tilley ([email protected]). ETH Zürich is committed to diversity, sustainability, and an inclusive academic environment. Apply online here .

ETH Zürich is offering a fully funded PhD position in Food Waste Supply Chains as part of the FLOWERS project, which aims to facilitate local organic waste exchange for regenerative systems. The research focuses on rapidly urbanizing areas in Uganda and Malawi, where mismanagement of organic waste from restaurants and food vendors leads to nutrient loss, environmental pollution, and missed opportunities for sustainable food systems. The project seeks to map and analyze waste flows, identify supply chain interventions to increase trade and reuse of organic waste, and pilot scalable waste treatment solutions such as composting, Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming, and anaerobic digestion (AD). The doctoral student will be jointly appointed in ETH’s Food Systems Economics and Policy group (FSEP), led by Prof. Eva-Marie Meemken, and the Global Health Engineering group (GHE), led by Prof. Elizabeth Tilley. The position involves developing a doctoral proposal, planning and implementing surveys and qualitative interviews with restaurants, waste traders, and farmers, and conducting several months of fieldwork in Uganda. The research will generate comparative evidence on barriers and enablers across systems in Uganda and Malawi, with a strong focus on international collaboration and global impact. Applicants must hold or be about to complete a MSc degree in development/agricultural economics or a related field, have experience in survey data collection, and possess skills in statistics and econometrics. Excellent English language skills are required. The position is scheduled for 4 years, with salary and social benefits provided according to ETH Zurich rules. The application deadline is February 27, 2026, and applications must be submitted online via the ETH Zurich portal. Required documents include a CV, diplomas, MSc thesis or term paper, summary of MSc thesis, and contact details for two scientific references. For questions, contact Prof. Eva-Marie Meemken or Prof. Elizabeth Tilley. This opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in agricultural economics, sustainable food systems, organic waste management, and international research collaboration. The FLOWERS project offers a unique chance to contribute to solving global challenges for a sustainable future, with benefits including professional development, international networking, and impactful research outcomes.

PhD Opportunity in Food Waste Supply Chains at ETH Zürich ETH Zürich is offering a fully funded 4-year PhD position in the field of food waste supply chains, with a focus on agricultural economics, development economics, and food systems. The successful candidate will join the FLOWERS project (Facilitating Local Organic Waste Exchange for Regenerative Systems), which aims to address urban food waste management and circular supply chains in Uganda and Malawi. The project is a collaboration between ETH Zürich, Eawag (Switzerland), Makerere University (Uganda), and NGOs in Malawi. Research Focus: The FLOWERS project seeks to map food waste flows, identify barriers, and co-design scalable interventions such as composting, Black Soldier Fly farming, or anaerobic digestion. The research combines quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with supply chain actors, including restaurants, traders, and farmers. The project will generate comparative evidence on barriers and enablers across different systems in Uganda and Malawi, aiming to develop scalable, locally appropriate solutions for sustainable food systems. Supervision: The PhD student will be jointly supervised by Prof. Eva-Marie Meemken (Food Systems Economics and Policy group) and Prof. Elizabeth Tilley (Global Health Engineering group) at ETH Zürich. Responsibilities: The candidate will develop a doctoral research proposal, plan and implement data collection (surveys, interviews, interventions), analyze data, and disseminate results through scientific publications, conferences, and outreach activities. The position involves several months of fieldwork in Uganda and offers opportunities to strengthen skills in project management, data analysis, and academic communication. Eligibility: Applicants must have (or be close to completing) an MSc in development economics, agricultural economics, or a related field. Experience with survey data collection, skills in statistics and econometrics, and familiarity with data analysis software are required. Excellent English proficiency (written and spoken) is essential. The ability to work both independently and collaboratively is expected. Funding: The position is fully funded for 4 years, with salary and social benefits according to ETH Zürich rules. The research environment is international and interdisciplinary, providing hands-on experience with field interventions in Africa. Application Process: Applications must include a CV (max 2 pages), diplomas, a copy of the MSc thesis (or term paper) and a 1-page summary, and contact details for 2 scientific references. Applications are accepted exclusively via the ETH Zürich online portal. The deadline is February 27, 2026. For questions, contact Prof. Eva-Marie Meemken ([email protected]) or Prof. Elizabeth Tilley ([email protected]). Keywords: food waste, supply chains, agricultural economics, development economics, food systems, circular economy, waste management, Uganda, Malawi, survey data, econometrics.