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.