Overview
Doctoral Students in Production Management (m/w/d) at University of St.Gallen (HSG). The Institute of Technology Management (ITEM), Division Production Management (Prof. Friedli), in cooperation with the Chair of Production and Operations Management (POM) at ETH Zurich (D-MTEC), invites applications for up to new doctoral positions to be hired by ETH Zurich or HSG to join the ETH-HSG Manufacturing Alliance. The alliance currently includes 14 industrial partners: Roche, Roche Diagnostics, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Takeda, SHL Medical, Nestl&e, Lindt & Spr&ngli, Givaudan, Schneider Electric, Schindler, Endress+Hauser Flowtec, VAT Group and SFS Group.
Responsibilities
Conduct doctoral research at the intersection of industry and academia, with close cooperation with industry partners and cross-institutional exchange.
Potential involvement in teaching and supervision activities at the home institution.
Topics of interest
Global Operations. Configuration, coordination, and improvement of global production networks, incl. geopolitical issues and supply resilience.
Operational Excellence. Lean, quality management, sustainability, and change management from the shopfloor to strategic initiatives.
Behavioral Operations. The role of humans in human-technology cooperation, knowledge management, and the operator of the future.
Smart Manufacturing. Application of digitalization, machine learning, analytics, and other Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing.
Profile / Qualifications
Near completion of or holding a Master’s degree from a recognized university.
Background in operations or supply chain management, production engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, applied analytics, economics, business administration, or related fields.
Familiar with production and operations management and a passion for manufacturing.
High motivation to collaborate with one or several industrial partners.
Highly motivated, self-driven, with a track record of excellent performance.
Some background in statistics and data analysis or aptitude in qualitative research methods.
Excellent oral and written English skills; interest in writing. Proficiency in German is a plus but not required.
Initial or broad experience in industry through consulting or industry internships.
Application process and requirements
The application is submitted through ETH's online portal. One application addressed to both ETH Zurich and University of St.Gallen (HSG) is requested. Please submit the following documents:
A statement of motivation and research interests addressed to both Prof. Netland and Prof. Friedli (1-2 pages).
A CV.
Transcripts of all obtained degrees (in English or German).
If applicable, grade transcripts of to-be-completed degrees.
A writing sample (usually an extract from the Master’s thesis or a scholarly article).
References or contact details of referees.
New deadline: August 31, 2025. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, and early submissions are encouraged.
About ITEM and the PhD programme
The Institute of Technology Management (ITEM) was founded in 1989 with the support of the Foundation for the Promotion of Technology Management, Technology Policy and Technology Transfer. The institute focuses on problem- and application-oriented research and maintains close links to industry through collaboration with Swiss and European organizations. Research results feed into courses, and students can participate in industry projects.
Employment details
Salary and appointment terms: Regular research associate positions with a competitive salary according to ETH standards at ETH Zurich and HSG standards at St.Gallen. The duration is typically four years and contracts are limited. Candidates should indicate their preferred home institution (ETH Zurich or HSG).
Work environment and benefits
We offer an inspirational work environment at Europe’s leading business university, flexible work-time models, potential for part-time arrangements, and access to extensive information resources and facilities. We support internal and external executive education opportunities and foster cross-functional collaboration with industry partners. We also provide family-friendly policies and health initiatives.
University information
University of St.Gallen (HSG) is a leading European university in economics and business administration with a large community of researchers and staff. For more information, see the HSG website.
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