Doctoral Student in Forest Management Effects on Water Quality / Doctoral Studentess in Forest Management Effects on Water Quality

Doctoral Student in Forest Management Effects on Water Quality

100%, Zurich, Fixed-term

The student will be hosted between the groups WaldLab Ecohydrology and Silviculture. The WaldLab Ecohydrology group is part of the Chair of Hydrology and River System Science at the ETH Zurich Institute of Environmental Engineering, specializing in water chemistry assessments in forested ecosystems. The Silviculture group is part of the Chair of Forest Resources Management at the ETH Zurich Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, focusing on silviculture and forest management. We are looking for a reliable, enthusiastic, and highly motivated doctoral student with a passion for interdisciplinary science to join our team.

Project Background

This position is a part of the project "Forest Management and Drinking Water Security under Climate Change," supported by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment. The project investigates the critical link between forest ecosystem management and health and the quality of drinking water across Switzerland. As climate change intensifies disturbances like droughts, windthrows, and pest outbreaks, understanding how forest structure and management influence water quality outcomes is vital. Through national scale and experimental sites, the project integrates country-wide data analysis, water quality monitoring of spring networks, and detailed mechanistic insights into subsurface flow routing and transit times. This project closely aligns with forest and drinking water stakeholders and decision-making authorities; therefore, a solid understanding of Central European and Swiss forest ecosystems, including species composition, development stages, and silvicultural practices, is essential for this role. The project will be carried out in a collaborative environment between the two research groups, providing extensive technical support and interdisciplinary expertise in ecohydrology and forest management.

Job Description

The doctoral project focuses on assessing the resilience of Swiss drinking water resources to forest changes and management interventions. As the successful candidate, your work will include:

• National-Scale Data Integration: Analyzing gradients in forest cover and structure (e.g., tree species mixtures, density) in relation to long-term drinking water parameters, accounting for hydrogeology and land-use history.
• Field Monitoring & Sampling: Conducting water quality assessments across Swiss-wide spring networks to identify how management practices influence resilience during event-driven disturbances.
• Mechanistic Investigations: Monitoring intensively instrumented experimental sites to determine how forest health and structure alter subsurface flow routing and contamination pulses.
• Synthesis & Strategy Development: Developing and evaluating suitable management strategies to reduce drinking water risks.
• Stakeholder Communication: Performing statistical analyses and modeling to translate findings into actionable management recommendations for water abstractions.

The full-time position is funded for four years. Salary and social benefits are provided according to ETH Zurich rules.

Profile

Upon starting, you must have completed a Master's degree in hydrology, environmental sciences, forest sciences, ecology, or a closely related field with experience in water chemistry, silviculture, experimental fieldwork, and large-scale data analysis. You must have strong statistical skills and programming experience (e.g., in R or Python). Excellent written and spoken English, as well as a valid driver's license, are mandatory. For this project, knowledge of German and other Swiss national languages is considered an asset. Good writing skills and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment are essential.

Workplace

The successful candidate will join an inspiring, international, and interdisciplinary work environment at a world-leading research institute. You will have opportunities to collaborate with practitioners and federal/cantonal offices, present research at national and international conferences, and be part of a dynamic research team that fosters collaboration and mutual learning. Access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure will be provided.

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 that respects the rights and dignity of all staff and students. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to learn how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us, and we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So are we.

Please apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

About ETH Zürich

ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities specializing in science and technology. Renowned for its exceptional education, cutting-edge fundamental research, and direct transfer of new knowledge into society, ETH Zurich fosters independent thinking and excellence. With over 30,000 individuals from more than 120 countries, we collaborate to develop solutions for global challenges today and tomorrow.