PhD Position in Innovation Management

Department of Business Administration

PhD Position in Innovation Management %

Start of employment March 1, 2026, or by mutual agreement, temporary

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.

Your responsibilities

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 de-veloped 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 Mobili-ty-as-a-Service solutions.

Your Responsibilities comprise

• 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 on the dissertation

Your profile

We are looking for a highly motivated and research-oriented candidate to join our team. The position is ideal for applicants interested in pursuing a rigorous, academically and 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.

Your Profile comprises:

• Excellent academic record with a Master's degree (at least magna cum laude or equivalent) in Busi-ness Administration or a related field (e.g., Economics, Psychology, or Sociology)
• Strong interest in innovation management research and topics such as platform economy, entrepre-neurial 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

Information on your application

Please send the following documents as a single PDF to

• A letter of motivation
• Curriculum vitae
• Academic transcripts (including a record of coursework and grades)
• A writing sample (e.g., term paper or Master's thesis)
• Contact details of two academic referees

For further important details, see here:

Applications will be revieweed upon submission and until the position is filled.

What we offer

Work-Life Balance

• Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing)
• Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH

Learning and Development

• Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich
• Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich

Food

• Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias
• Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution

Healthcare

• Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ
• Free seasonal flu vaccinations
• Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower

Discounts

• Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space
• Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions
• Special conditions on hotel reservations

Conditions of Employment

• Policies of the UZH
• Most UZH staff are employed according to public law

International Services

• Support for people from outside Switzerland

Campuses

• Campuses Zurich City, Zurich Irchel, Oerlikon and Schlieren
• Sites Zurich West, Old Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden and Lengg

Location
Department of Business Administration

Plattenstrasse 14, 8032 Zürich, Switzerland

Further information
Questions about the job

Prof. Dr. Anja Schulze

Working at UZH

The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer

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