PhD student - Doctoral : Cycle Assessment; LCA framework quantificati
Listed on 2026-03-03
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Engineering
Research Scientist, Environmental Engineer -
Research/Development
Research Scientist
Organisation/Company Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) Research Field Engineering » Aerospace engineering Engineering » Mechanical engineering Engineering » Simulation engineering Environmental science » Earth science Environmental science » Global change Geosciences » Other Physics » Applied physics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Final date to receive applications 31 Mar 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) Country Switzerland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
About SLICE
Space utilisation plays a crucial role in understanding climate change, but due to a drastic increase in launch rates, there is an urgent need to understand and mitigate potential environmental impacts of space activities themselves, particularly of launchers. However, large knowledge gaps persist for their operational phase from lift-off to landing/reentry. Here, the largest Global Warming Potential and Ozone Layer Depletion Potential are expected.
Especially in the higher atmospheric layers, which are only accessed by launchers, potential impacts of emitted pollutants are amplified by very long retention periods and substance accumulation effects. To investigate the Space Launch Impact on Climate and Environment, SLICE will therefore develop a research and training programme that bridges the current divide between space engineering and climate science to close the gaps that exist in the Life-Cycle Analysis of space launch systems.
Thus, SLICE will contribute to advance the science of climate change by investigating the three most pressing research areas of this field:
Launch Vehicle Emissions, Atmospheric Interaction & Climate Impact and System Analysis & Design. This will generate actionable insights, on which SLICE will develop solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate the delivery of the Green Deal and establish an environmentally sustainable access to space. It’s the ambition of SLICE to generate desperately needed novel results, which will enable cutting-edge innovations.
At the same time, SLICE is committed to training a new generation of highly skilled, resilient, and environmentally aware researchers. They will combine deep scientific knowledge with an ecodesign mindset and the ability to communicate across disciplines and sectors. These doctoral candidates will be uniquely prepared to shape a sustainable future for space transportation in Europe - technically, environmentally, and politically.
SLICE directly supports the European Green Deal, ESA’s Agenda 2025, and will deliver crucial inputs for the EU Space Law and Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) regulations at European level, including the development of PEF Category Rules (PEFCR) for space.
About the host organization
Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) is the largest federal research institute active in energy, environment and life science research in Switzerland. We perform cutting-edge research in the fields of matter and materials, energy and environment and human health. By performing fundamental and applied research, we work on sustainable solutions for major challenges facing society, science and economy. PSI is committed to the training of future generations.
Therefore, about one quarter of our ca. 2300 staff are post‑docs, post‑graduates or apprentices. It develops and operates large research facilities open to an international user community. It operates the PSI Center for Energy and Environmental Sciences, which includes the Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry (LAC) and the Laboratory of Energy Systems Analysis (LEA), in close cooperation with ETH Zürich. The LAC is dealing with chemical processes on surfaces exposed to air in the atmosphere ( https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).
), while the LEA is specialised in energy systems and life cycle analysis ( https:// ).
Current LCA methods are not tailored to space activities and exhibit major…
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