Baza natječaja

PhD position in Climate Finance and Policy
100%, Zurich, fixed-term

ETH Zurich’s Climate Finance and Policy Group (CFP) is seeking a doctoral candidate as part of the ERC Starting Grant project “GREENFIN – Effective green financial policies for the low-carbon transition”. We are an interdisciplinary research group investigating options for public policy and for private actors to accelerate investments in new low-carbon technologies, particularly in the energy sector. 

Job description
Mitigating dangerous climate change requires a fundamental transition of global economies. This transition calls for an annual investment of 2–4 trillion USD, which is a multiple of current climate investment. Accordingly, the EU and many countries are enacting green financial policies, and intervening in the financial sector to improve financing conditions for low-carbon technologies. Examples include green state investment banks, green finance taxonomies, and changes to lending regulations. However, the effect of these financial policies on investments in non-financial sectors such as energy or transport is largely unknown, and it remains unclear how to make the best use of such policies to fill the climate finance gap. Against this backdrop, the project GREENFIN uses theory from technology innovation studies and financial/public economics and exploits large asset finance databases. Specifically, you will analyze the effectiveness of financial policy interventions in OECD countries, using quantitative empirical methods, and will study the interplay of financial policies with economy-wide climate policies and energy sector-specific interventions.

Your profile
We are looking for individuals with a master's degree, aiming to pursue a cumulative (paper-based) doctoral thesis. Relevant disciplinary fields include, but are not limited to economics, business administration, industrial engineering, public policy political science.
Interdisciplinary individuals are welcome.
Knowledge of climate and energy finance, and/or practical experience in the finance sphere would be a bonus.
You should be dedicated to scientifically rigorous work that at the same time is relevant to decision-makers in the public and private sectors.
Your working style is team-oriented, and you are proficient in English; German language skills are a plus but not a core requirement.

We offer
We offer an entrepreneurial research atmosphere within a dynamic team at continental Europe’s leading research university. CFP is a very diverse group (in terms of disciplines, gender and nationalities) and strongly values inclusion. As such, we encourage all qualified candidates to apply Candidates will have the opportunity to contribute to CFPs research agenda and are encouraged to co-advise master’s students. Through close collaboration with ETH’s Energy and Technology Policy Group (Prof. Tobias Schmidt) and as a member of ETH’s Institute of Science, Technology, and Policy (ISTP) and ETH’s Energy Science Center, our group benefits from frequent interactions with leading scholars in other energy- and policy-related fields. Furthermore, we collaborate with other national and international academic and policy institutions (e.g., CMCC, MIT, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and the World Economic Forum). Our offices are centrally located in Zurich. The starting date is negotiable. The position is foreseen for three years. The salary is in accordance with the Swiss National Science Foundation PhD regulation.

We value diversity
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.

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application including:

• a letter of motivation
• CV with contact information of two references (no recommendation letters required at this point)
• your university diplomas or transcripts
• a sample paper or chapter from your Master thesis

Please submit your applications by July 28, 2023.

More information here: https://jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOPG_ethz_rf9bQuYaBpIis3Tuy3

The review of applications will start on July 28, 2023.

The positions will remain open until filled. For further information please contact Prof. Bjarne Steffen (no applications) by email: bjarne.steffen@gess.ethz.ch

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

Apply online now!