PhD Candidate in Global Trade, Supply Chains and Climate Shocks

PhD Position in Global Trade, Supply Chains and Climate Shocks

100% | Zurich | Fixed-term

The KOF Lab of ETH Zurich's KOF Swiss Economic Institute is seeking a PhD candidate to study the propagation of weather and climate shocks in quantitative trade network models. This position is part of the National Centre of Competence in Research project, Climate Extremes and Society: Strengthening Resilience (NCCR CLIM+), which is an interdisciplinary climate research initiative spanning multiple Swiss institutions.

Job Description

• The project will focus on assessing and enhancing the resilience of supply chains by developing and solving quantitative global equilibrium models of trade networks.
• We will utilize firm-level data to estimate the impacts of various weather and climate shocks at the industry and country levels, integrating these impacts into our models.
• The doctoral candidate will employ theoretical, computational, and econometric tools to investigate public policy questions related to the resilience of global supply chains to climate change.
• The doctorate will be undertaken within the doctoral program of D-MTEC (Department of Management, Technology, and Economics) and is expected to be completed within four years.
• The candidate will receive primary supervision from Professor Hans Gersbach and Dr. Kieran Walsh.
• The position is available for up to four years, with a salary in accordance with the PhD regulations of the Swiss National Science Foundation, which funds the NCCR.

Profile

• The applicant should hold a master's degree in economics or finance. Candidates with a master's degree in mathematics or statistics will also be considered, provided they have completed coursework in economics and are ready for intensive economics PhD training.
• Proficiency in English is mandatory.
• The applicant should be skilled in either MATLAB, Python, or Julia, with a willingness to work in MATLAB.
• Prior coursework in trade theory and environmental economics will be a significant advantage.
• Experience with panel data econometrics will be beneficial.

Workplace

The position will be based at the KOF Swiss Economic Institute, a leading academic institute for applied economic research in Switzerland. KOF provides independent and objective data, as well as timely assessments to support decision-makers in politics and business in making informed decisions for the benefit of Swiss society. PhD students at KOF become part of a vibrant community of economic researchers, with opportunities to engage in numerous workshops and conferences across various fields of economics.

We Value Diversity and Sustainability

In alignment with our values, ETH Zurich fosters an inclusive culture that promotes equality of opportunity and values diversity. We are committed to ensuring a working and learning environment that respects the rights and dignity of all staff and students. Sustainability is a core principle for us, and we continually strive toward a climate-neutral future.

Apply Now

If you are curious to learn more and meet the qualifications outlined above, we encourage you to apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities specializing in science and technology. Recognized for its exceptional education, pioneering research, and direct knowledge transfer to society, our diverse community of over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries fosters independent thinking and excellence. Located in the heart of Europe while establishing global connections, we collaborate to solve the pressing challenges of today and tomorrow.