PhD Position in Innovation Management

The Chair of Mobility and Digital Innovation Management at the University of Zurichis looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our research team.

The position is ideal for applicants interested in pursuing a rigorous,academicallyand internationally oriented PhD at a research-intensive university in the heart of Europe.

The position is designed for a duration of approximately four years. The PhD is pursued within a doctoral program at the Graduate School of Business (GSB) and is academically anchored in the field of Strategy, Organization and Innovation.

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Start date:

March 1, 2026 (or by agreement)

📝We’ll start screening applications on January 12, 2026 (rolling thereafter)

📩Apply via email to tim.ch

• Conduct research with the aim of completing a cumulative PhD thesis
• Collaborate on ongoing research projects at the chair, partly in cooperation with corporate or public‑sector partners
• Support teaching activities, including supervision of seminar papers, preparation of course materials, and assistance with innovative teaching formats
• Contribute to the administrative and organizational tasks of the chair
• The clear focus of the position, however, is on research work for the dissertation

• Excellent academic record with a Master’s degree (at least magna cum laude or equivalent) in Business Administration or a related field (e.g., Economics, Psychology, or Sociology)
• Strong interest in innovation management research and topics such as platform economy, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and/or the transformation of mobility
• Experience in empirical research (qualitative or quantitative methods)
• Independent, structured work style and a strong team spirit
• Excellent written and spoken English; knowledge of German is an asset

• Opportunity to pursue a PhD at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics of the University of Zurich, one of the leading business schools in the German‑speaking world
• A stimulating research environment with international visibility and high topical relevance
• Close academic supervision and integration into international research networks
• Funding for participation in international conferences and PhD courses, including those offered by the faculty’s Graduate School
• Flexible working conditions and an attractive location in one of the world’s most liveable cities
• Annual gross salary of approximately CHF 58,000 (approximately EUR 62,000)

The Chair of Mobility and Digital Innovation Management is part of the Strategy, Organization and Innovation area at the Institute of Business Administration at the University of Zurich. We study organizational strategies, processes, and structures that enable technology-based and sustainable innovation in firms. Our research focuses on how organizations can achieve innovation performance effectively and resource‑efficiently, and how technological and institutional conditions shape innovation.

Dissertation topics are developed jointly and may build on ongoing projects or pursue the candidate’s own theoretical and empirical interests, provided there is a clear link to the chair’s research agenda. A particular focus of many projects is on the mobility sector, including the automotive supplier industry, autonomous driving, and multimodal Mobility‑as‑a‑Service solutions.

The University of Zurich is one of Europe’s most prestigious research universities. The Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics is known for its strong international orientation, vibrant research culture, and close ties to practice.