
Scholarships
ETH Zurich PhD Positions in Applied Macroeconomics and Political Economy 2026 in Switzerland
The Chair of Applied Macroeconomics at ETH Zurich, in collaboration with the KOF Swiss Economic Institute, is hosting PhD positions in Applied Macroeconomics and Political Economy. Successful applicants will join a collaborative research environment focusing on empirical macroeconomics, international economics, public finance, and political economy. They will work with internationally recognized faculty members while earning a PhD degree from ETH Zurich. The PhD program is part of the Department of Management, Technology and Economics at ETH Zurich. The research environment at ETH Zurich is highly collaborative, with doctoral researchers working closely with faculty members on various research projects. The university is consistently ranked among the world's top universities for science, technology, engineering, and economics. The KOF Swiss Economic Institute is internationally recognized for its independent research and policy analysis, offering PhD researchers exceptional opportunities to contribute to influential economic research while building strong academic and professional networks. The PhD positions are available for an initial 18-month contract, extendable to 4-5 years based on satisfactory progress. The starting date is negotiable, and the application deadline is 30 September 2026. Benefits - Fully funded paid PhD research position - Competitive gross salary according to ETH Zurich employment regulations - Opportunity to earn a PhD from ETH Zurich - Supervision by Prof. Dr. Jan-Egbert Sturm and/or Dr. Enea Baselgia, depending on the research topic - Access to world-class research facilities and economic datasets - Participation in international seminars, workshops, and conferences - Opportunities to collaborate with leading economists and international researchers - Supportive and diverse academic environment - Coursework within the ETH Zurich D-MTEC doctoral programme - Opportunities for limited teaching experience Eligibility - Hold or complete a Master's degree in Economics or a closely related field before the position begins - Demonstrate strong academic performance - Have an interest in empirical economic research and public policy - Possess knowledge of applied macroeconomics, international economics, political economy, or public finance - Have a solid background in econometrics, statistics, and quantitative analysis - Be familiar with at least one statistical programming language such as Stata, R, or Python - Demonstrate excellent written and spoken English communication skills - Be willing to work in a collaborative research environment - Applicants from quantitative disciplines such as statistics, finance, political science, public policy, or data science are also encouraged to apply if they have sufficient economics training - German language skills are welcome but not required Required Documents - Letter of motivation explaining research interests - Curriculum Vitae (without a photograph) - Writing sample (Master's thesis, research paper, or similar) - Complete academic transcripts - Degree certificates and diplomas - Contact details of two or three academic referees 2. Upload all required application documents. 3. Provide contact information for referees and review the application carefully before submission. 4. Submit the application before 30 September 2026.

