PhD position in Data-driven monitoring of CO2 and NOx emissions from space

Vor 2 Tagen

Ueberlandstrasse Dübendorf ZH Switzerland Empa Vollzeit CHF 57'000 - CHF 63'000 pro Jahr


Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.
We are offering an exciting PhD position at Empa's Laboratory for Air Pollution / Environmental Technology, in collaboration with the University of Zurich and Wageningen University & Research. The four-year STEPS project focusses on developing data-driven and machine learning methods to monitor CO2 and NOx emissions using the upcoming satellite missions (e.g., CO2M, TANGO, Sentinel-4/5).
Your research will contribute directly to monitoring global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net-zero targets.
Your tasks
  • Simulate emission plumes from point sources using the MicroHH atmospheric model.
  • Analysis of plume dynamics and NOx chemistry in the high-resolution simulations.
  • Develop and refine data-driven methods for emission quantification.
  • Apply your methods to real satellite data from missions like CO2M and TANGO.
  • Present your findings at international conferences and publish them in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Complete a PhD thesis at the University of Zurich.

Your profile
  • Master's degree in Earth Sciences, Geography, Physics, Environmental Sciences, Meteorology, or a related field.
  • Passion for atmospheric remote sensing, chemical transport modelling, and data science.
  • Solid programming skills (ideally Python) and experience with data analysis.
  • Self-motivation and curiosity to learn and grow independently. 
  • Strong communication skills in English; German is a plus.
  • Enthusiasm for working in a multidisciplinary and international team.

Our offer
  • A fully funded PhD position at Empa in Dübendorf near Zurich, with a starting salary of CHF 57,000/year
  • Collaboration with an internationally recognized research team with leading experts in remote sensing, atmospheric modelling, emission quantification, and machine-learning.
  • Integration into Empa's Atmospheric Modelling / Remote Sensing group with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure.
  • Supervision by PD Dr. Gerrit Kuhlmann, with joint affiliation to the Remote Sensing Laboratories at the University of Zurich. The PhD degree will be awarded by the University of Zurich.
Starting date is 1 April 2026 or upon mutual agreement.

We look forward to receiving your complete online application including a letter of motivation, CV, diplomas with transcripts and contact details of two reference persons. Please submit these exclusively via our job portal. Applications by e-mail and by post will not be considered.

David
Heusser,
HR Partner

  • PhD position in Data-driven monitoring of CO2 and NOx emissions from space

    Vor 4 Tagen

    Dübendorf, Zürich, Schweiz Empa Vollzeit CHF 57'000 pro Jahr

    PhD position in Data-driven monitoring of CO2 and NOx emissions from space Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain We are offering an exciting PhD...

  • PhD position in Data-driven monitoring of CO2 and NOx emissions from space

    vor 2 Wochen

    dübendorf, Schweiz Empa Vollzeit

    Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain. We are offering an exciting PhD position at Empa's Laboratory for Air Pollution / Environmental Technology, in...

  • PhD position in Data-driven monitoring of CO2 and NOx emissions from space

    Vor 4 Tagen

    Dübendorf, Zürich, Schweiz Empa Vollzeit CHF 55'000 - CHF 60'000 pro Jahr

    Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.We are offering an exciting PhD position at Empa's Laboratory for Air Pollution / Environmental Technology, in...

  • PhD Position in Reflection Seismology for Carbon Capture and Sequestration

    Vor 6 Tagen

    Zürich, ZH, Schweiz ETH Zurich Vollzeit CHF 64'000 - CHF 96'000 pro Jahr

    PhD Position in Reflection Seismology for Carbon Capture and Sequestration100%, Zurich, fixed-termThe Institute of Geophysics at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences of ETH Zurich invites applications from ambitious and talented candidates for a fully funded 4-year PhD position in reflection seismology for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS)...

  • PhD Position in Hierarchical Graph Neural Networks for Multi-Scale Urban Energy Systems

    vor 1 Woche

    Ueberlandstrasse Dübendorf, ZH, Switzerland Empa Vollzeit CHF 60'000 - CHF 120'000 pro Jahr

    Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain. The Urban Energy Systems Laboratory (UESL) pioneers strategies, solutions, and methods to support the development...

  • PhD position: Shape memory alloy

    vor 2 Wochen

    Ueberlandstrasse Dübendorf, ZH, Switzerland Empa Vollzeit CHF 64'400 - CHF 176'400 pro Jahr

    Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain. We offer an opportunity to join an exciting project at our Structural Engineering Laboratory, within the...

  • PhD Position in the field of cold sintering of ferroelectric ceramic materials

    vor 1 Woche

    Ueberlandstrasse Dübendorf, ZH, Switzerland Empa Vollzeit CHF 60'000 - CHF 90'000 pro Jahr

    Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain. For a fundamental project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), we are looking for a highly...

  • Two PhD positions in Biophysics and rheology of bacterial biofilms

    vor 1 Woche

    Zürich, ZH, Schweiz ETH Zurich Vollzeit

    Two PhD positions in Biophysics and rheology of bacterial biofilms100%, Zurich, fixed-termThe bioMatter Microfluidics Group of Dr Eleonora Secchi at ETH Zurich is seeking two PhD candidates. Our research focuses on uncovering the physicochemical mechanisms that control microbial surface colonisation and biofilm assembly, structure, and rheology. We use a...

  • PhD student in the field of numerical simulation of plasma-based methane decomposition

    Vor 2 Tagen

    Ueberlandstrasse Dübendorf, ZH, Switzerland Empa Vollzeit CHF 80'000 - CHF 120'000 pro Jahr

    Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain. To strengthen our team and enhance our knowledge and understanding in pyrolysis processes we are looking for a...

  • Senior Space Systems Engineer

    vor 1 Woche

    Zürich, ZH, Schweiz ETH Zurich Vollzeit CHF 120'000 - CHF 180'000 pro Jahr

    Senior Space Systems Engineer80%-100%, Zurich, fixed-termETH Zurich | Space is dedicated to advancing space activities both within ETH and in collaboration with external stakeholders. Our mission is to position ETH Zurich as Europe's leading institution in space research and education, while also being recognized as a premier partner for space-related...