Are you a highly motivated and intellectually curious individual passionate about the intersection of finance, climate change, and corporate strategy? Do you want to contribute cutting-edge research that informs investment decisions and shapes the future of sustainable finance?
The
Sustainable Finance Group (SustFin) within the Department of Management, Technology, and Economics of ETH Zurich is inviting applications for a fully funded, four-year
doctoral position focused on the financial implications of climate risk.
This PhD project, jointly supervised by Assistant Professor Thomas Giroux (Chair of Sustainable Finance, ETH Zurich) and Senior Researcher Chiara Colesanti Senni (Finance department, University of Zurich), offers an outstanding opportunity to engage with urgent, real-world sustainability challenges. By combining rigorous academic inquiry with practical relevance, the project will provide a stimulating research environment at the intersection of finance, climate science, and public policy.
Job descriptionThis PhD position will contribute to a pioneering research agenda, exploring the multifaceted impacts of climate change on corporate activities and financial markets. The successful candidate will conduct independent research across two interconnected themes:
- Quality of Transition Plans, Asset Pricing and Investment Decisions: You will investigate the robustness and credibility of corporate climate transition plans. This includes analyzing how the quality of these plans is perceived by the market, their implications for real-world decarbonation, and how various stakeholders (investors, lenders, insurers) integrate this information into their investment and lending decisions, including an asset-pricing analysis of these implications.
- Impact of Physical Risk on Companies' Activities (including scenarios and using satellite data): This theme focuses on quantifying and assessing the financial impacts of physical climate and nature risks on corporate operations and assets. You will develop and apply advanced methodologies, including scenario analysis and the innovative use of satellite data, to model the exposure and vulnerability of companies to climate-related hazards (e.g., floods, droughts, extreme weather events) and relate it to investments decisions, innovations and other channels of business models transition and adaptation.
ProfileWe are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:
- A Master's degree (or equivalent) in Finance, Economics, Environmental Science, Data Science, Quantitative Social Sciences, or a related field with a strong quantitative component.
- Excellent analytical and quantitative skills, including proficiency in statistical software (e.g., Python, R).
- Demonstrated interest in climate change, sustainable finance, and corporate sustainability.
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Prior experience with large datasets, econometrics, or geospatial analysis is a strong asset.
We offerWe offer a positive research environment in a large, dynamic team at a globally leading academic institution. In our group, you will benefit from frequent interactions with leading researchers from across a vibrant community at ETH Zurich and around the world.
- A stimulating and supportive research environment within a leading institution in sustainable finance.
- Access to extensive datasets and cutting-edge analytical tools.
- Opportunities for international collaboration and participation in top-tier academic conferences.
- Dedicated supervision from leading experts in the field.
- A competitive salary and benefits package for a four-year duration.
- The chance to contribute directly to the evolving landscape of sustainable finance and climate risk management.
Your day-to-day supervisor will be Assistant Professor Thomas Giroux (Chair of Sustainable Finance, ETH Zurich) and Senior Researcher Chiara Colesanti Senni (Finance department, University of Zurich.
This PhD is fully funded. You will be hired as a full-time researcher for the entire duration of the project (2025/2026 to 2028/2029). The starting date is negotiable, but we are aiming to fill this position as soon as possible (late 2025 - early 2026). 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.
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