4yr PhD - Forest Management and Economics

The Forest Resources Management Group (FORM) at ETH Zurich aims to maximize forest utilities for humans today and in the future. With this vision in mind, our research is centered around the development of impact oriented, innovative approaches to inventory our forest resources, the development of decision support systems to manage our forests sustainably under risk and uncertainty, and translating our findings into policy and practice.

85% of Europe's forests are managed with the aim to ensure ecosystem functioning and the continued provision of forest ecosystem services (FES). Societal- and climatic changes drive the need for a transition from forest management focused on timber production, assuming a co-production of other FES, to integrative, multifunctional forest management (e.g., European Commission, 2021). However, these changes reveal and amplify a mismatch between the supply and demand of FES in Europe (Winkel et al., 2022, For. Policy Econ. 145, 102849).

Coupling simulations of forest growth and management with multicriteria optimization - involving multiple, often conflicting objectives - allows for the identification of forest management strategies that mitigate trade-offs between different FES. However, most approaches (1) focus only on FES supply or make implicit, simplified assumptions about supply-demand relations, (2) disregard spatial heterogeneity in socio-economic conditions, and (3) disregard future uncertainties in FES valuation.

In this project we will develop an indicator framework (a set of different metrics) for FES. It will allow for estimating spatially explicit FES demand and supply by applying, a.o., concepts from economic valuation theory. The framework will allow us to assess the role of socio-economic heterogeneity as compared to biophysical heterogeneity in the context of the land-sharing vs. land-sparing debate. We will apply economic concepts to account for future uncertainties in FES demand. These methodological advances will be integrated into a simulation-optimization model for forest management, which will then be applied to case studies from local to regional scales. This will allow for assessing the importance of heterogeneity and uncertainty in socio-economic conditions for the design of efficient, integrative forest management strategies. The results will be relevant for the development of targeted policies to align FES supply and demand.

As a valued member of our group, you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with leading experts and be the main contributor to an innovative project with real-world impact. Here's what you can look forward to:

• Work closely with inspiring researchers to explore economic theories and their cutting-edge applications in the valuation and mapping of forest ecosystem services.
• Develop your skills in spatial data analysis and statistics while working with diverse datasets to uncover important biophysical and socio-economic patterns.
• Be part of interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers from various fields, exchanging ideas and collecting data to bring your project to life.
• Gain a fresh perspective on forest growth and management, delving into the socio-economic dimensions that drive desirable solutions.
• Dive into advanced simulation modeling and optimization techniques, with plenty of support to learn and innovate.
• Help develop new approaches for adapting forest management to climate and societal challenges.
• Share your discoveries with the world! You'll publish your findings in high-impact journals and present your work at exciting national and international conferences.
• Enjoy an inclusive and supportive research environment, participating in a vibrant community of researchers and contributing to teaching activities that broaden your horizon.

We're looking for enthusiastic individuals from diverse academic backgrounds who are excited about exploring forest management and forest ecosystem services (FES) through an interdisciplinary lens. Don't worry if you don't have all the experience yet—this position is about developing your skills, with access to exceptional training, resources, and mentorship along the way.

Here's what we're looking for:

• Academic Foundation: You've earned a Master's degree (MSc) in forestry, environmental economics, environmental systems science, or a related field. If you've studied topics like environmental management, economics, operations research, or forestry during your coursework, you're already on the right track!
• Programming Enthusiasm: You enjoy solving problems through coding and have some experience with R or Python for data analysis or modeling. If you've dabbled in GIS, that's a bonus!
• Willingness to Learn: You're excited to deepen your knowledge in areas such as forest economics, forest management, economic theory, spatial analysis, simulation modeling, and optimization techniques / operations research—no prior mastery required.
• Communication Skills: You can express your ideas effectively in English (written and spoken). While German is an advantage, it's not essential.
• Creativity and Motivation: You're a curious, self-motivated learner who enjoys challenges and trying out new ideas.
• Team Spirit: You enjoy working in a welcoming, diverse, and interdisciplinary group that thrives on collaboration.

We offer a full-time position for the entire 4 year duration of the project. The starting date is negotiable, but we are aiming to fill this position as soon as possible (March 15, 2025). The annual salary is very competitive (see ETH Zurich regulations). The position is based in Zurich, Switzerland. Remote work from outside of Switzerland is not possible due to legal constraints.

More information is available on the ETH website regarding doctoral studies at ETH and employment conditions of doctoral students.

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