Job ID: 71466

PHD Decision Support for Agricultural Water Management

Agroscope

Location: Zurich, Switzerland

Apply by: 26 Sep 2026

Relevant Sectors

Administration, HR, Management, Accounting/Finance

PHD Decision Support for Agricultural Water Management

Location: Zurich, Switzerland

Agroscope, the Swiss federal centre of excellence for research in the agriculture and food sector, is seeking a PhD candidate for a project on decision support for agricultural water management. The summer of 2026 demonstrated the vital importance of water resources for agriculture in Switzerland and the conflicts that can arise over their use. As part of this PhD project, embedded in the 'Integrated Water Management Thurgau' resource project, the candidate will contribute to making agricultural water management in Switzerland more sustainable and future-oriented. Responsibilities include development of model-based decision-support tools for different target groups, agrohydrological modeling at both regional and field scale, effective communication and publication of project content and results to different target audiences, and co-creation and communication with project partners and stakeholders. Candidates should hold a Master's degree (MSc) in Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geography, or a related field, with experience in crop growth models, soil water balance models, and hydrological models. Excellent proficiency in scripting languages (Python, R) and strong analytical and communication skills are required, along with an independent, goal-oriented, and solution-focused approach to work. Knowledge of two official Swiss languages and English is needed. The position is based at the Water Protection and Substance Flows Research Group, which conducts research into nutrient management, nutrient flows and nutrient dynamics in agricultural ecosystems and the environment.

HOW TO APPLY:
Apply online via the 'Apply now' link on the job posting page.
https://ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/redirect/9861594c-e302-4181-a56a-cb76bb2f10cc/ats/