Catharina R. Bening
4 months ago
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PhD Positions in Circular Economy and Climate Resilience at ETH Zürich ETH Zürich in Switzerland
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Environmental Science
Funding
Fully funded PhD positions. The selected candidates will be hired as full-time researchers for the entire project duration. The annual salary is described as very competitive according to ETH Zurich regulations.
Deadline
Expired
Country
Switzerland
University
ETH Zürich

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About this position
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].
Funding details
Fully funded PhD positions. The selected candidates will be hired as full-time researchers for the entire project duration. The annual salary is described as very competitive according to ETH Zurich regulations.
What's required
Applicants should hold an M.Sc. or equivalent degree in economics, engineering, environmental sciences, or a closely related discipline. A strong academic record is required, along with strong analytical skills and experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods. Candidates should be passionate about sustainability, circular economy, and climate resilience, interested in the intersection of sustainability research and real-world policy and business applications, able to work independently and manage multiple tasks and deadlines, and be a team player with strong communication skills. Experience with coding and modeling (e.g. Python) is expected. Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Preferred but not required: work experience in a related area, prior scientific publications, interdisciplinary project experience, stakeholder engagement or science-policy interface work, and familiarity with Swiss or European industrial and environmental policy.
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