
🇨🇭 Doctoral Opportunity | ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
🔬 Doctoral Position: Innovation Economics & Policy for Climate Resilience
ETH Zurich — continental Europe's #1 research university — is seeking a doctoral student to work at the frontier of innovation economics, technology policy, and climate resilience!
📌 What's the Project About?
Climate extremes are disrupting supply chains, finance systems, and strategic industries worldwide. This doctoral project investigates how knowledge localization and innovation policy can help economies withstand foreign supply shocks — particularly for critical energy technologies — and build long-term resilience.
Key research activities:
✅ Empirical studies using patent data & innovation datasets
✅ Analysing how supply chain disruptions affect industries and countries differently
✅ Exploring how localized knowledge helps buffer global shocks in strategic sectors
✅ Developing evidence-based policy advice for governments & decision-makers
✅ Collaboration with world-leading institutions: MIT, Princeton, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, World Economic Forum & CMCC
The project is part of the newly established NCCR CLIM+: Climate Extremes and Society — a Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research developing a blueprint for actionable climate policy worldwide.
👨🏫 Supervisors
➡️ Prof. Tobias Schmidt — Energy & Technology Policy Group (EPG), ETH Zurich
➡️ Prof. Bjarne Steffen — EPG, ETH Zurich
📧 Questions: bjarne.steffen@gess.ethz.ch (no applications by email)
🏢 Department
Energy and Technology Policy Group (EPG)
Albert Einstein School of Public Policy, ETH Zurich
💰 Funding & Benefits
✔️ Full doctoral position — competitive Swiss salary
✔️ Expected duration: 3 years
✔️ Based centrally in Zurich, Switzerland
✔️ Regular interactions with policymakers via Albert Einstein School of Public Policy
✔️ Opportunity to co-supervise Master's students
✔️ Open to all nationalities — no Swiss work permit required at time of application
⚠️ Official residence in Switzerland required upon starting
🎓 Who Should Apply?
➡️ Master's (completed or near completion) in Economics, Management, Innovation Studies, Industrial Engineering, Public Policy or related field
➡️ Interest in innovation economics, technology policy, and/or climate resilience
➡️ Rigorous, team-oriented working style
➡️ Proficient in English
➡️ Interdisciplinary candidates warmly welcome
📄 What to Submit (online portal only):
→ Motivation letter (include your possible start date)
→ CV
→ Contact info for 2 references (no letters needed at this stage)
→ University diplomas/transcripts + writing sample (e.g. Master's thesis or seminar paper)
⏱️ Key Dates
📅 Application Review Starts: 13 April 2026
🗓️ Start Date: Q2 or Q3 2026 (negotiable)
📆 Position remains open until filled
🔗 Apply & Learn More:
phdscanner.com/opportunities/…
⚠️ Applications reviewed from 13 April — apply early!
🌍 Shape the policy response to climate change at one of the world's most influential research universities!
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