PhD Position in Food Waste Supply Chains, Agricultural Economics & Sustainability at ETH Zürich ETH Zürich in Switzerland

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.