Two PhD positions on Innovation and Policy of Energy Storage ETH Zurich in Switzerland

ETH Zurich’s Energy and Technology Policy Group (EPG) is offering two fully funded PhD positions focused on the innovation and policy of energy storage. The group, led by Professors Tobias Schmidt and Bjarne Steffen, investigates the role of public policy in technological change, with a strong interdisciplinary approach. These positions are part of the RESTORATIVE project, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Horizon Europe programme, which trains 17 PhD students across 7 universities and 4 companies in Europe.

The research will be conducted within the Einstein School’s doctoral program and will span three years, starting in September 2026. The project centers on grid-scale energy storage technologies, examining their competitiveness, technological development, reliability, integration, socioeconomic and environmental impacts, and policy/regulation. The ETH Zurich PhD positions specifically focus on long-term stationary energy storage technologies, using innovation theory-based frameworks and system dynamic modelling to analyze competitiveness and the impact of potential trade disruptions. The research aims to inform energy policy, industrial policy, and geopolitical strategies.

As part of the MSCA program, students will intern with Siemens Energy’s storage division and participate in academic exchange with the Energy Systems Lab at Imperial College London. The EPG group offers an entrepreneurial research atmosphere, frequent interactions with leading scholars, and collaborations with institutions such as CMCC, MIT, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and the World Economic Forum. Diversity, inclusion, and sustainability are core values at ETH Zurich.

Applicants must have a Master’s degree in industrial engineering, energy engineering, innovation studies, technology management, or economics/public policy with an energy/technology focus. Interdisciplinary candidates are encouraged. Proficiency in English is required, and candidates must comply with MSCA mobility rules (less than 12 months in Switzerland in the past 36 months). Application materials include a letter of motivation, CV, contact information for two references, diplomas/transcripts, and a sample of written work. All nationalities are eligible, and a Swiss work permit is not required at the time of application.

Applications are accepted exclusively through the ETH Zurich online portal. The deadline is 26 April 2026. For questions about the position, contact Prof. Schmidt at [email protected] (no application advice or phone consultations). For more information, visit the EPG website or the official job posting.