PhD Position in Spatio-Temporal Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Informed Decision-Making (100 %) | ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften

PhD Position in Spatio-Temporal Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Informed Decision-Making (100 %)

Are you passionate about decision support systems, digitalization, and GIS-based modeling? Do you want to contribute to developing a cutting-edge digital tool for real-world decision-making? Take a look at this opportunity!

School: School of Engineering

Starting date: 1st of June 2025

The advertised PhD position is part of the ZHAW Digital Fellowship project "Innovative Spatio-Temporal Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Interface to Support Informed Decision-Making for Real-World Applications (InSTIM)." The project focuses on developing a digital Decision Support Tool (DST) that integrates Geographic Information Systems (GIS), advanced computational techniques, and real-time data analytics to assist decision-makers in managing dynamic and complex challenges. The PhD will be offered as a cotutelle between the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) - the main base - and the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) at Leiden University. As part of this arrangement, the PhD candidate will be based primarily at ZHAW, with planned research stays at Leiden University.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Developing a spatio-temporal Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework to structure and analyze complex decision problems.
• Integrating uncertainty modeling into the MCDA framework.
• Implementing and optimizing real-time data integration methods to enhance decision-making accuracy.
• Designing and coding decision support algorithms for ranking, sorting, and clustering alternatives.
• Transferring the MCDA framework in an intelligible and user-friendly Decision Support Tool (DST).
• Applying the DST in case studies.
• Engaging with stakeholders, collecting feedback, and refining the tool's usability and effectiveness.
• Presenting and publishing research results at international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.
• You have a Master degree in a relevant field such as Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Geoinformatics, or a related discipline.
• Experience or strong interest in Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), GIS-based modeling, or spatio-temporal analytics.
• Strong programming skills in Python, R, or a similar language (experience with GIS libraries is a plus).
• Knowledge of geostatistical analysis or temporal data analysis is an advantage.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW is one of Switzerland's largest multidisciplinary universities of applied sciences, with over 14'000 students and 3'400 faculty and staff.

The interdisciplinary Institute of Sustainable Development (INE) at the School of Engineering (SoE) examines technological, economic, and social changes, along with their complex interactions, from a sustainability perspective. The Risk Management/Technology Assessment team conducts research in resilience engineering, technology assessment, the circular economy, and sustainability.

ZHAW is committed to gender-mixed and diverse teams in order to promote equality, diversity and innovation. We are also committed to a barrier-free university. We therefore motivate people with disabilities to apply.

ZHAW is committed to gender-mixed and diverse teams in order to promote equality, diversity and innovation. In order to increase the proportion of women in management positions, applications from women are particularly welcome.

Wir bieten hochschulgerechte Arbeits- und Anstellungsbedingungen an und fördern aktiv die Personalentwicklung unserer Mitarbeitenden und Führungspersonen. Eine detaillierte Beschreibung der Vorteile ist auf der Webseite «Arbeiten an der ZHAW» zu finden. Hier die wichtigsten Eckpunkte:

Jocelyn Schaad

Recruiting Manager