Doctoral Students in Production and Operations Management in Zürich

The Chair of Production and Operations Management (POM) (Prof. Netland) at the Department of Management, Technology, and Economics (D-MTEC) at ETH Zurich is seeking one or two Doctoral Students / Research Associates. The start date can be from May to October 2024.

The Chair of POM conducts empirical and innovative POM research with high relevance. The current focus areas of the Chair of POM are:

1. Operational Excellence. Industrial engineering, lean, quality management, agile, digital transformation, etc.
2. Smart Manufacturing. Application of AI and other Industry 4.0 technologies in POM, etc.
3. Global Operations. Configuration, coordination, and improvement of global production networks, geo-political issues in global supply chains, etc.
4. Sustainable Manufacturing. Remanufacturing, sustainable production networks, etc.

The Chair of POM is awarded for its research, leadership, and teaching excellence. ETH Zurich is situated in the heart of Europe, with outstanding research facilities, infrastructure, and quality of life.

We offer a full-time position with a competitive salary in accordance with . You will be involved in teaching and supervision. There is flexibility concerning the starting date to accommodate the selected candidate’s availability. The average duration for a doctoral student at D-MTEC is four years. The contract is limited ETH Zurich rules apply.

This is an open call for candidates where the primary selection criterion is excellence. However, we are currently particularly interested in candidates who would complement our team in terms of the following research interests:

1. Operational Excellence: The future of operational excellence programs (a.k.a. corporate lean programs or company-specific production systems)
2. Smart Manufacturing: Augmenting technologies for assembly operations (related to the ASSY 5.1 project)
3. Global Operations: Mapping the competitive advantages of Swiss manufacturing in a global context
4. Sustainable Manufacturing: Remanufacturing operations

• Is close to completion or holds a Master's degree from a recognized university
• Completing/completed studies in operations management, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, or related fields. Candidates with a background in economics are eligible to apply for the global operations topic
• Is closely familiar with production and operations management and has a passion for manufacturing
• Is highly motivated, self-driven, and shows excellent performance in his/her studies
• Has a strong background in statistics and data analysis or proven proficiency in qualitative research methods
• First-rate oral and written English skills and an interest in writing are required. Proficiency in German is a plus but not a requirement
• Having experience in consulting or from industry is a plus
• Please note that we conduct empirical research; candidates who only have a related background in mathematical modeling/Operations Research (OR) are discouraged from applying

You will become part of an ambitious research team offering an outstanding research environment and team spirit. ETH Zurich is a family-friendly employer with excellent working conditions. You can look forward to an exciting working environment, cultural diversity, and attractive offers and benefits.