PhD studentships at Zurich

NCCR project “Civil Society – Government Interactions in Global Governance”

The NCCR Democracy is an interdisciplinary research program on thechallenges to democracy in the 21st century funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the University of Zurich. In theframework of the NCCR project “Civil Society – Government Interactionsin Global Governance” we are seeking two Ph.D. students. Theappointment is for four years and will begin on October 1, 2009.

Project description: The project will study how civil society groups(NGOs and business groups) and government representatives interact inthe context of global environmental policy making. It will concentrateon developing a formal (game theoretical) model to explain governmentand civil society groups behavior. It will also use a combination ofqualitative case studies and statistical analysis to test hypothesesgenerated by the theoretical model. The empirical work will mainlycover global climate change and ozone layer policy as well as policiespertaining to trade in hazardous wastes and endangered species.

Position / Profile: We are looking for two PhD students with a stronginterest in analyzing global environmental issues from a politicaleconomy perspective. We expect you to hold an MA/MSc in politicalscience and/or economics, to have strong methodological skills, a keeninterest in questions of political economy, a good knowledge ofpolitical science and political economy theories, and a strong commandof English. Expertise in formal modelling (game theory) is notnecessary, but will have to be acquired during the first year.
Terms of employment: We offer the successful candidates anintellectually challenging position in one of the leading politicalscience research centers in Europe and the prospects of obtaining aPhD from ETH Zürich (http://www.ib.ethz.ch/phd/index). Your employmentand workplace will be in the International Political Economy researchgroup at the CIS, which is led by Prof. Thomas Bernauer(http://www.ib.ethz.ch). The salary will be according to the pay scaleof the Swiss National Science Foundation (ca. CHF 3’000.- /month,which is sufficient to support a modest one person household inZürich). The employment is for four years. Applications: Applicationsshould include a letter of motivation, a detailed curriculum vitae,two letters of recommendation, copies of all academicdegrees, the MA/MSc thesis or two recent seminar papers. Please submityour application in two Pdf files, the first containing all parts ofthe application except the MA/MSc thesis or seminar papers, to MsClaudia Jenny at cjenny@icr.ethz.gess.ch.
The deadline for applications is May 15, 2009.
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ETH Zurich
Dr. Michael M. Bechtel
Center for Comparative and International Studies
WEC C 25
Weinbergstrasse 11
CH-8092 Zurich
michael.bechtel@ir.gess.ethz.ch
www.ib.ethz.ch/people/mbechtel
+41 44 632 62 68 phone
+41 44 632 12 89 fax