Empa and Eawag, two world-leading research institutes within the ETH Domain, are bundling their expertise to address one of the key questions of our times: How can demonstrated, but underutilized, climate change adaptation and mitigation technologies (like NetZero construction, resilient urban water systems, renewable energy, etc.) be scaled up and mainstreamed to reach their full transformative potential? To tackle this question, we are establishing the Climate Solutions Hub (CSH), a new collaboration platform in which scholars from our two institutes and beyond will collaborate with partners from industry, the public sector, and civil society to analyze and support the scaling of innovative climate solutions.

To support the buildup of this pioneering Hub, we are opening two Tenure-Track Group Leader positions that will explore innovation scaling processes from complementary perspectives.

2 Tenure-Track Group Leader Positions in the Climate Solutions Hub (f/m/d, 80–100%)

Position 1: Modelling Implementation Potentials & Scaling Trajectories

You will be responsible for establishing a research group dedicated to quantitatively assessing system-level implementation and market potentials of innovative climate solutions. This includes modeling climate solutions spatial and socio-economic scaling trajectories and estimating their overall market potential. The position will focus on climate-positive infrastructure solutions, such as NetZero construction techniques, water reuse, or blue-green infrastructure, but candidates are encouraged to bring in ideas and expertise from related fields.

Your main tasks will include:
  • Building up and guiding your own research group with a high-quality publication record and international visibility in relevant academic communities
  • Creating a strong competence base in modelling and assessing plausible pathways through which innovative climate solutions may scale to wider, potentially global applications
  • Securing third-party funding for research and stakeholder integration activities
  • Actively supporting the build-up of the Climate Solutions Hub through engagement in integrated research projects, close collaboration with the managing team, and the Hub’s key stakeholders
  • Co-designing roadmaps, geographic maps, strategy tools, or compelling visualizations that support innovation scaling dynamics with partners in industry, the public sector, NGOs, or the media

Your Profile:
You are team-oriented and forward-thinking with a strong methodological background in modeling approaches and a passion for work at the interface of social sciences, engineering, and natural sciences and in close collaboration with stakeholders.

Your qualifications include: 
  • PhD in environmental economics, economic geography, urban studies, public policy, engineering, environmental sciences, or related fields
  • Promising publication recordin modelling and critically assessing the implementation potential of solutions to climate change under varying geophysical, economic, and political conditions
  • Relevant methodological strengths, e.g. in applying technology adoption and diffusion models, feasibility and suitability mapping, and/or policy and regulatory scenario modeling
  • Experience in developing research projects in close collaboration with stakeholders and communicating key results to broad, non-scientific audiences
  • Experience in research on climate-relevant innovation in infrastructure sectors is a plus.
  • Excellent proficiency in English; knowledge of at least one of the official languages in Switzerland (German, French, Italian) is a plus
  • Clear vision for including equity, diversity, and inclusion in managing your research group
To apply


Position 2: System and business innovation

You will be responsible for establishing a research group dedicated to assessing how novel value propositions and business models are developed around innovative climate mitigation and adaptation technologies. The position explores how firms, engineering consultants, as well as municipalities and semi-public entities jointly develop new products and business offerings and value chains around innovative approaches for tackling climate change. The position will focus on climate-positive infrastructure solutions, such as NetZero construction techniques, water reuse, or blue-green infrastructure, but candidates are encouraged to bring in ideas and expertise from related fields.

Your main tasks will include:
  • Building up and guiding your research group with a high-quality publication record and international visibility in relevant academic communities.
  • Creating a strong competence base in exploring innovation scaling processes in infrastructure sectors from a business-oriented and systemic perspective.
  • Securing third-party funding for research and stakeholder integration activities.
  • Actively supporting the build-up of the Climate Solutions Hub through engagement in integrated research projects, close collaboration with the managing team, and the Hub’s key stakeholders.
  • Co-designing business model canvases, strategy tools, roadmaps, or compelling visualizations that support innovation scaling dynamics with partners in industry, the public sector, NGOs, or the media.

Your profile: 
You are team-oriented and forward-thinking with a strong interest in system and business innovation and a passion for working at the interface of the social sciences, engineering, and natural sciences, and in close collaboration with stakeholders.

Your qualifications include:
  • PhD in business / innovation management, transition studies, corporate sustainability, entrepreneurship, economics, public policy, sociology, or related fields in the social sciences
  • Promising publication records in exploring how new business activities, value propositions and value chains are created and scaled around innovative climate adaptation or mitigation solutions
  • Deep expertise in relevant quantitative and/or qualitative research methods, e.g. expert interviews, social network analysis, qualitative comparative analysis, etc.
  • Experience in developing research projects in close collaboration with stakeholders and communicating their results to broad, non-scientific audiences
  • Experience in research or consulting on climate-related innovation in infrastructure sectors is a plus
  • Excellent proficiency in English; knowledge of at least one of the official languages in Switzerland (German, French, Italian) is a plus
  • Clear vision for including equity, diversity, and inclusion in managing your research group
  • Experience with having worked in the private sector is a plus
To apply


Our Offer
We offer two purposeful leadership roles within a unique and dynamic research environment that bundles the expertise of multiple ETH Domain Institutes. You will have the opportunity to perform high-level research with direct impact in practice and play a key role in developing a highly innovative research initiative. 

At Eawag and Empa, we create a working environment in which people with different experiences, strengths, and perspectives can fully contribute and further develop. We promote genuine participation, exchange, and mutual understanding and create structures that enable the compatibility of work and other areas of life and continuously make efforts to reduce barriers. We value people with different experiences, strengths, and perspectives as essential to addressing complex climate challenges and encourage candidates from underrepresented or marginalized groups to apply. 

Do you have specific requirements regarding the application process or the position, or do you need additional information? Talk to us about it—we will be happy to support you with flexible workplaces, working hours, and job design solutions


Application and Contact
We look forward to receiving your application by February 11, 2026. Please apply through the application links in this job ad. Any other way of applying will not be considered.

Please include the following documents in your complete online application: 
  • A motivation letter (1 page max.)
  • CV (without photo, including publication list)
  • Copies of your academic diplomas and qualifications
  • A vision statement for your research group (1 page max.) 

For further information about the positions, please contact:
Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology