Postdoctoral Researcher in Economic Resilience and Energy Supply Shocks

KOF Swiss Economic Institute is part of the Department of Management, Technology and Economics (D-MTEC) at ETH Zurich. We are looking for a Post-doctoral or PhD Researcher in Innovation Economics.  

The starting date is open and the contract duration will initially be for 12 months with the prospect of extension up to a total of 5 years. Gross salary will be in accordance with the regulations of the ETH Zürich. 

Energy supply failures can have significant repercussions for both the economy and society. The economy functions as a complex, interconnected system of firms, sectors, and regions, all linked through an input-output network. Understanding how shocks propagate through this network is essential for assessing the overall impact of energy disruptions and for identifying the most vulnerable nodes within the production network. This insight is vital for enhancing economic resilience, and will be used for economic policy design.

The primary objective of this project is to identify critical nodes within the production network and develop measures to prevent the spread of energy shocks. This will involve the construction of a comprehensive firm-level input-output network dataset using a combination of various data sources and advanced machine learning techniques.

• Data Collection and Analysis: We will gather and analyze firm-level data from various sources (incl. survey data). These data will provide insights into firm interdependencies, energy consumption, and the effects of energy supply or price shocks on firm output.
• Network Reconstruction: We will use machine learning techniques to reconstruct missing links in the supply chain network, treating it as a link prediction problem. This involves using firm characteristics such as industry, location, and size to predict firm-to-firm relationships.
• Economic Modeling: We will develop and estimate an economic production network models to predict how energy shocks propagate through firms and assess the economic consequences. This model will account for firm-level heterogeneity in energy intensity and the ability to substitute suppliers.

• PhD (or close to completion) in Data Science, Economics, or a related field with a strong background in machine learning and statistics or econometrics.
• Experience with large datasets, particularly in the context of economic modeling or input-output analysis.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Matlab, or similar software, and familiarity with machine learning libraries.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

ETH Zurich is a family-friendly employer with excellent working conditions. You can look forward to an exciting working environment, cultural diversity and attractive benefits.