Doctoral Student in Development Economics
100%, Zurich, fixed-term
The Development Economics Group (ETH-DEC) at ETH Zurich is offering a doctoral student position in development economics. The position will start on 1 March 2026. The position is full-time and limited to four years.
Our research group: We conduct research in empirical development economics within the fields of global inequalities, financing for development, public health economics, technologies for poverty reduction, responsible resource extraction, and evidence-informed policymaking. Please consult the Development Economics Group for an overview of ongoing research projects.
Our team: We are an international team of highly dedicated economists and data scientists interested in analyzing global inequalities and contributing to global development solutions. Our research group is closely linked to NADEL, a multidisciplinary team educating current and future decision-makers for global cooperation and sustainable development, and ETH for Development, which links researchers with practitioners to develop and scale technical innovations for the global population.
Our values: We value open discourse, diversity, and empathy. We are curious about new approaches to research, enjoy interdisciplinary research, and encourage public service.
Job description
As part of ongoing research projects at ETH-DEC, the successful candidate will conduct research at the intersection of public health and information provision using mostly secondary data. Examples include:
* A project studying harmful narratives about public health in local radio broadcasts, as well as the impact of organisations providing reliable and independent information to counteract misinformation in Africa.
* A project on the spatial and temporal monitoring of different measures of food insecurity in low- and middle-income countries.
Profile
The successful candidate should have a:
* Master's degree in Economics or Statistics and be proficient in English, both written and spoken
* They must demonstrate a high motivation to conduct research within the field of development economics and global public health
* The ideal candidate will have a strong background in quantitative methods and experience in analyzing secondary data
* Experience of working in low- and lower-middle-income countries and/or experience of statistical learning methods would be an additional asset, but is not required
* The successful candidate is a team player who enjoys interdisciplinary discussions and has strong communication skills. They will also be willing to travel globally.
Workplace
Workplace
We offer
* Your job with impact: Become part of ETH Zurich, which not only supports your professional development, but also actively contributes to positive change in society
* You can expect numerous benefits, such as public transport season tickets and car sharing, a wide range of sports offered by the ASVZ, childcare and attractive pension benefits
We offer an exciting and intellectually challenging position at one of the top global universities with close links to policymaking. The candidate will work closely with Prof. Isabel Günther and Dr. Kenneth Harttgen. Teaching is encouraged but not mandatory.
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 and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. 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 application by the 30th of November 2025 including:
* a one-page cover letter
* a CV
* academic transcripts
* one publication/thesis
* In addition, candidates should ask for two academic reference letters to be sent directly to by the 5th of December 2025.
Interviews will take place in the first half of January 2026.
ETH Doctoral Student salaries can be found here: Salary | ETH Zurich. This position is a standard Doctoral Student position. Doctoral Student at the Social Science Department at ETH spend a minimum of 80% of their time on research and 20% on group-related tasks.
Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.
For more information about the position, contact Ghislaine Megha-Bongnkar ) or Dr. Kenneth Harttgen (no applications).