Student Assistant / Student Assistantess

Student Assistant at KOF Swiss Economic Institute

10%-30%, Zurich, fixed-term

The KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich is the leading institute for applied research in economics in Switzerland. KOF fosters a strong collaborative environment that promotes exchange between research and administrative staff across different levels and functions. We are committed to rigorous, applied research on policy-relevant topics that are closely connected to Switzerland.

The Research Division Innovation Economics is seeking a student research assistant to support the project in Supply Chain mapping described below. The position is part of the SWEET: RECIPE project, which examines the resilience of the Swiss energy system. We are looking for support from April 2026 through Fall 2026.

Project Background

Supply Chain Mapping for the (Swiss) Electricity Grid Components

Supply chain disruptions pose systemic risks to critical infrastructure when they delay or prevent the maintenance, repair, or replacement of essential components. Such risks are particularly pronounced when complex intermediate goods or critical raw materials are sourced from a small number of firms or countries. Vulnerabilities are amplified when dependencies occur in higher tiers of global value chains, often remaining opaque to operators and regulators.

This project aims to identify and analyze hidden supply chain dependencies in critical components of the Swiss electricity grid. The objective is to assess Switzerland's exposure to external production shocks that could compromise grid reliability and energy security.

Our methodology is designed to be highly scalable and could be extended to other domains. The project provides a data-driven foundation for assessing supply chain resilience in the Swiss electricity system and supports policymakers in designing targeted mitigation strategies.

Job Description

We are seeking individuals with a strong interest in research and a background in Economics, Engineering, Data Science, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. Prior experience in handling and analyzing data is an asset, and a strong motivation to further develop these skills is expected. The working language of the project is English.

We need your support with tasks such as:

• Assist in AI-supported generation & validation of BOMs
• Find and collect potential data sources (industry reports, technical descriptions, etc.)
• Extract firm information from business databases
• Produce descriptive statistics of the results

Profile

• Proficient in Python
• Available for approximately 6 months (minimum)
• Fluent in English
• You must be enrolled at a Swiss university and be willing to work between 1 to 2 days per week (15 hours)
• At KOF, working hours are typically managed flexibly, allowing time for exam preparation and other study commitments while coordinating with the research staff at KOF to meet deadlines.

Workplace

Your work will take place in a dynamic and supportive research environment at ETH Zurich.

We Offer

• Your job with impact: Become part of ETH Zurich, which supports your professional development and actively contributes to positive societal change.
• Direct involvement in AI-driven research: Gain hands-on experience applying state-of-the-art AI methods in an academic research project with real-world policy relevance.
• Numerous benefits, including public transport season tickets and car sharing, a wide range of sports offered by ASVZ, childcare, and attractive pension benefits.

We Value Diversity and Sustainability

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity, and nurture a working environment in which the rights and dignity of all staff and students are respected. Sustainability is a core value for us; we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So Are We.

We look forward to receiving your online application 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. We are renowned for excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research, and the direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our university a place that promotes independent thinking and inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.