Postdoctoral or Senior Researcher in Innovation and Diffusion of Carbon Dioxide Removal

The Group for Sustainability and Technology (SusTec) within the Department of Management, Technology, and Economics of ETH Zurich investigates and improves the understanding of technological innovation, institutional dynamics, and organizational strategies as key drivers towards a decarbonized, circular economy. As part of the SusTec group of around 30 professionals, the Sustainability in Business Lab (sus.lab) further drives the sustainability transition in collaboration with industry, policymakers, and academia.

You are expected to conduct research toward a net-zero economy, focusing on the innovation, scale-up, and diffusion of carbon dioxide removal (CDR). While your work includes understanding technological advancements, your research should address broader organizational, institutional, or technological questions to comprehensively tackle climate challenges, for example:

• How can we build innovation ecosystems that facilitate the development of CDR technologies?
• Which policy designs enhance – or hinder – the adoption of CDR?
• What are effective governance structures for carbon markets to support CDR?
• How can entrepreneurship & finance contribute to scaling CDR technologies?
• Which role could CDR play in companies' climate strategies?

Your profile fits particularly well with our ongoing research if you have worked on novel CDR methods with a technology aspect such as direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) or bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).

Your work is scientifically rigorous and at the same time relevant to industry and policymakers. An integral part of your work consists of advising PhD and master students. By supporting some of the group’s diverse teaching activities, you are directly contributing to SusTec’s innovative approach to sustainability and helping bridge research and learning. Further, you will have the opportunity to contribute to shaping the group’s strategy, involve yourself in crafting funding proposals and gain experience in leading research projects and teams.

“In general, postdoctoral researchers at ETH Zurich have a full-time employment. A part-time employment may only be considered in exceptional cases (e.g. child- or familycare, other projects or employment).”

Your previous activities reflect a strong interest in climate challenges on a systemic and/or organizational level and pathways to net zero. You hold a PhD in a relevant field related to management, applied economics, or policy studies, or a PhD in engineering or climate science if paired with experience in a social science discipline. We welcome applications from both qualitative and quantitative researchers. Whether you recently finished your PhD or have some years of post-PhD research experience, you show a clear aspiration to pursue an academic career. Your excellent academic record underlines your potential to publish in top-ranked journals. Your working style is team-oriented, and you have strong communication skills. You are proficient in English; German is an additional asset but not required.

We offer an entrepreneurial research atmosphere in a large and dynamic team at a globally leading academic institution. As a group, we benefit from frequent interactions with leading scholars in a vibrant community of net-zero research within and outside of ETH Zurich. We offer national and international development opportunities through collaborations within academia and with industry. Further, you will have the option to collaborate closely with sus.lab, SusTec’s transdisciplinary think-and-do-tank, on more applied projects with companies and policymakers. The annual salary is very competitive. The position is initially limited to one year, with a potential for prolongation for several years. The starting date is negotiable, but we are aiming to fill this position by winter 2024/25. Note that this role is based in Zurich, Switzerland – remote work from outside of Switzerland is not possible due to legal constraints.