PhD position in Online Communities in Zürich

100%, Zurich, temporary

The Chair of Strategic Management and Innovation at the Department of Management, Technology & Innovation invites applications for a PhD position in Online Communities.

Over the past years, online communities have rapidly become important sources of innovation in society. This project aims to advance understanding of how members of such communities coordinate their work and create knowledge and innovation. These questions are of particular relevance due to the unique organizational characteristics of online communities, including their flat hierarchies, voluntary membership, and open organizational boundaries that enable ideas for new products and services to be sourced from anywhere and anyone.

The PhD candidate will investigate various aspects of online communities that have been shown to be of critical importance for the success of online communities yet remain underexplored.

We offer an inspiring, supportive, and team-based research environment to support your immediate immersion into an ongoing research agenda. In addition to attractive salary conditions, the chair offers an excellent location in the center of Zurich (consistently ranked as one of the world’s premier cities in terms of living standards). The student will be supervised by Georg von Krogh and SMI’s senior researchers. Read more about our research group on

Starting date: April 1, 2021

Prospective candidates should hold a University degree on the Master’s level (MBA is not eligible) in the area of business administration or related fields such as management information systems, computer science, psychology, sociology, mathematics, engineering, physics, and statistics. We invite applicants with a strong affinity with machine learning, big data analytics, and statistical analysis.

We appreciate basic knowledge of scientific research methods, and in particular experience with quantitative research methods. We look for candidates who display strong interest and willingness to work hard to improve their research skills. Excellent command of English (C1), both in written and spoken form are required. As a candidate, you should enjoy writing, be self-directed, and passionate about emerging trends in online communities.

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.