100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Grassland Sciences group at ETH Zurich is a vibrant and international working group at the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zurich. Together with the team Earth Observation of Agroecosystems at Agroscope, we are looking for a reliable, enthusiastic, and highly motivated postdoc with a passion for science to join our team. Our research focuses on process- and system-understanding of agroecosystems (grasslands and croplands), in particular on their response to management and climate.

Project background

This position is embedded in a project on Spatio-Temporal Patterns and Trends of Environmental Footprints and Reductions of Climate Impacts in Switzerland (PERSIST), a collaboration with Dr. Helge Aasen at Agroscope, Switzerland. We aim to develop an innovative approach to quantify spatio-temporal patterns and trends of environmental footprints (i.e., greenhouse gas emissions and water use) and to assess management practices to reduce climate impacts of agriculture in Switzerland. We will combine high spatio-temporal resolution data streams from satellite remote sensing, eddy-covariance flux and meteorological measurements with site, soil, and management information to provide quantitative evidence of how land management practices are related to GHG emissions and water use.

Job description

Your main tasks include:

  • merging data on crop and grassland conditions and performance indicators from remote sensing with meteorological and flux data streams to quantify trends from 2016 until today,
  • extracting management practices from remote sensing data and scaling up observations from discrete sites to spatially explicit area-wide estimates,
  • analysing data from the entire Swiss agricultural landscape as well as collaborating with stakeholders,
  • presenting results at conferences and publishing in international journals.
  • Optional: Assistance in teaching at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels (in English), depending on research experience, and support in student supervision.

The position is funded for up to two years. Salary and social benefits are provided according to ETH Zurich rules.

Profile

Applicants must hold a PhD or doctoral degree with a strong proven research background in agricultural sciences, micrometeorology, greenhouse gas exchange, or remote sensing. Relevant research experience can be based on observations, modelling, or statistical analyses. Excellent command of large data analyses as well as very good English language skills are mandatory. Knowledge of the German language and experiences with stakeholder interactions are a plus.

The starting date is preferentially 1 August 2025. Applications are solicited until 25 May 2025. Apply now.

Please see the job board for more details.

Switzerland