PhD Positions in Circular Economy and Climate Resilience at ETH Zürich ETH Zürich in Switzerland

ETH Zürich is recruiting 2 fully funded PhD students in the Group for Circular Economy within the Department of Management, Technology, and Economics. The positions are based in Zurich, Switzerland, and are part of a research agenda on circular economy, climate resilience, sustainability, and the transition to a decarbonised future.

Position 1 (SWEET ACHIEVE) focuses on circular economy measures in hard-to-abate sectors such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and waste treatment. The project examines how firms, industries, and policy can reduce emissions through circular transition pathways, using both qualitative and quantitative methods to study adoption pathways, policy requirements, and value-chain effects.

Position 2 (NCCR CLIM+) focuses on industry restructuring and climate resilience under supply chain disruptions. The research investigates how climate-induced shocks, raw material shortages, and infrastructure failures reshape firms, industries, and policy responses, again combining qualitative and quantitative methods and developing forward-looking scenarios for businesses and policymakers.

The ideal candidate has an M.Sc. or equivalent in economics, engineering, environmental sciences, or a closely related field, with an excellent academic record, strong analytical skills, coding/modeling experience (e.g. Python), and fluent English. Experience with interdisciplinary projects, stakeholder engagement, publications, or Swiss/European industrial and environmental policy is a plus.

The positions are fully funded, full-time, and offered for the duration of the project. The annual salary is competitive under ETH Zurich regulations. The application is reviewed on a rolling basis from late May 2026, and the deadline is 2026-06-30. Applicants must submit a CV with two referees, a motivation letter indicating the preferred project, BSc and MSc transcripts, and a writing sample. Applications must be submitted via the online portal; email or postal applications will not be considered.

Supervision is by David Pfeffer, with Prof. Dr. Catharina Bening leading the group. Contact emails listed in the posting are [email protected] and [email protected].