Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is an internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). Eawag conducts research, education and expert consulting to achieve the dual goals of meeting direct human needs for water and maintaining the function and integrity of aquatic ecosystems.
The Department of Environmental Social Sciences (ESS) and the Department of Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development (Sandec) are offering a

PhD position on transitions in basic service sectors and slum upgrading in African cities

The main objective of this research is to better understand success conditions for basic service provision and upgrading strategies in informal settlements in African cities. The successful candidate will analyze and compare alternative initiatives in informal settlements of the Global South ranging from service-specific interventions to integrated urban upgrading projects. Particular emphasis will be on the role of enabling environments. The research will build on and interact with on-going research projects such as SuSara and profit form exchange with other projects of the transdisciplinary WINGS programme at Eawag.

Research results will be published in the form of three to five academic papers in international journals. The candidate will work full time at Eawag (Switzerland) and graduate from Utrecht University (the Netherlands), where the University’s academic resources and networks will
be accessible to the candidate. Within Eawag, she or he will be affiliated with ESS and Sandec departments. The 4-year inter-disciplinary PhD position pays a full Eawag PhD salary and also covers expenses for field research in a selected number of African cities.

The preferred start date is 1 October 2018.

We are looking for a qualified candidate with a strong background in socio-technical transition studies and/or studies on urban development in the global South, good analytical skills and ability to conduct interdisciplinary research. Experience in conducting qualitative case study research will be considered as an asset. Excellent spoken/written English is a requirement. For further information on the project, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Eawag offers a unique research and working environment. Besides academic skills, the PhD student will acquire project management expertise as well as work and leadership experience in low-income countries. The salary structure is competitive, and PhD students have no teaching duties, aside from supervising Master’s students and interns who will assist in the data collection of the project. Eawag is committed to promoting equal opportunities for women and men and to support the compatibility of family and work. For more information about Eawag and our work conditions please consult www.eawag.ch and www.eawag.ch/en/aboutus/working/employment .

We look forward to receiving your application. Please submit your application via the Eawag Jobs & Career webpage including CV, a copy of your MSc thesis or a published paper, a one page outline of your research proposal (including main research objectives, planned activities and methods to be used) and the contact information of two references. The application deadline is 1 July 2018. Any other way of applying will not be considered. The link below will take you directly to the application form.

apply.refline.ch/673277/0619/pub/1/index.html