PhD Position in Environmental or Ecological Economics

Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is a Swiss-based and internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH domain (Swiss Federal Institute of Science and Technology). It is committed to the ecologically, economically and socially responsible management of water resources and aquatic ecosystems.

The Department of Environmental Social Sciences has a vacancy for a PhD Position in Environmental or Ecological Economics (100%, 4 years)

The PhD position is part of one WP in the TREBRIDGE project, where besides the PhD student, there will be a postdoc and three senior scientists involved. This WP focuses on assessing the monetary and non-monetary value of nature based on societal preferences in three case study regions. More specifically, the prospective PhD student will identify socio-economic factors to be included in the economic analysis and costs of current policy and management practices. The PhD student will then assess monetary and non-monetary values of nature for alternative future scenarios, which will differ in terms of resource use/non-use options, tradeoffs and climate change impacts. This process will include eliciting public preferences for different management alternatives in the case study regions and comparing the economic desirability of future scenarios through cost-benefit analysis. To this end, an online survey, including stated preference valuation methods, will be conducted among the general population living in the case study regions. The survey will also aim to capture the non-monetary values of nature (e.g. sense of identity and place) which cannot be expressed in monetary terms. The future scenarios will be developed through a participatory process in another WP, which the team of this WP will also be involved in. Apart from regular project meetings, the project foresees three stakeholder workshops, which are expected to provide inputs for this WP and where the results of this WP will be presented.

We are thus looking for a PhD student interested in conducting in-depth, qualitative and quantitative economic research, applied to the ecology, the environment and natural resources. The prospective candidates should have completed or be in the process of completing a master program in economics. Other disciplines may also be considered depending on the skill-set. Candidates should have a strong interest in academic research and empirical work. Training in or experience with environmental or ecological economics will be considered an asset. The position requires a good command of German and English in speaking and writing. French language skills are an asset.

awag is a leading institute world-wide for research in Aquatic Sciences & Technology with some 600 collaborators including over 100 PhD students in a stimulating multidisciplinary environment. As a modern employer Eawag offers an excellent working environment where staff can contribute their strengths, experience and ways of thinking. We promote gender equality and are committed to staff diversity and inclusion. The compatibility of career and family is of central importance to us. For more information about Eawag and our work conditions please consult www.eawag.ch and https://www.eawag.ch/en/aboutus/working/employment/

The institute is located close to Zurich, which provides ample possibilities for international education and is known for its excellent quality of life.