Doctoral Student in Forest Management Effects on Water Quality ETH Zürich in Switzerland

The Doctoral Student in Forest Management Effects on Water Quality position at ETH Zürich offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the interdisciplinary project “Forest Management and Drinking Water Security under Climate Change,” supported by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment. The student will be hosted between the WaldLab Ecohydrology group (Chair of Hydrology and River System Science, Institute of Environmental Engineering) and the Silviculture group (Chair of Forest Resources Management, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems), both renowned for their expertise in water chemistry, ecohydrology, silviculture, and forest management.

The project investigates the critical link between forest ecosystem management and the quality of drinking water across Switzerland, especially as climate change intensifies disturbances such as droughts, windthrows, and pest outbreaks. The research integrates national-scale data analysis, water quality monitoring of spring networks, and mechanistic insights into subsurface flow routing and transit times. The collaborative environment provides extensive technical support and interdisciplinary expertise, with close alignment to forest and drinking water stakeholders and decision-making authorities.

The doctoral project focuses on assessing the resilience of Swiss drinking water resources to forest changes and management interventions. Key responsibilities include:

• National-scale data integration: Analyzing gradients in forest cover and structure in relation to long-term drinking water parameters, accounting for hydrogeology and land-use history.
• Field monitoring and sampling: Conducting water quality assessments across Swiss-wide spring networks to identify how management practices influence resilience during event-driven disturbances.
• Mechanistic investigations: Monitoring intensively instrumented experimental sites to determine how forest health and structure alter subsurface flow routing and contamination pulses.
• Synthesis and strategy development: Developing and evaluating suitable management strategies to reduce drinking water risks.
• Stakeholder communication: Performing statistical analyses and modeling to translate findings into actionable management recommendations for water abstractions.

The position is fully funded for four years, with salary and social benefits provided according to ETH Zurich rules. The envisioned starting date is 1 July 2026, and interviews will begin in May 2026. Applicants must have a Master’s degree in hydrology, environmental sciences, forest sciences, ecology, or a closely related field, with experience in water chemistry, silviculture, experimental field work, and large-scale data analysis. Good statistical skills and programming experience (R or Python), excellent written and spoken English, and a driver’s license are mandatory. German and other Swiss national languages are considered an asset. The ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment and strong writing skills are expected.

ETH Zürich offers an inspiring, international, and interdisciplinary work environment, opportunities to collaborate with practitioners and federal/cantonal offices, and access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure. The university values diversity, sustainability, and equality of opportunity, fostering a climate-neutral future and a fair, open environment for all staff and students.

To apply, submit your online application via the ETH Zurich application portal, including a letter of motivation (max. two pages), CV, Bachelor’s and Master’s certificates with transcripts, list of publications (if available), and contact information for two referees. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered. For further information, contact Dr. Marius Floriancic ([email protected]) or Dr. Mathieu Lévesque ([email protected]).