Doctoral student in induced and natural seismicity forecasting, Zürich (Kreis 11)

Doctoral student in induced and natural seismicity forecasting ETH Zürich is well known for its excellent education, ground‑breaking fundamental research and for implementing its results directly into practice. The Swiss Seismological Service (SED) at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (D‑EAPS) is seeking a motivated doctoral student to work atthe intersection of statistical seismology and machine learning. This position is part of two EU‑funded projects: GeoTwins, which focuses on creating digital twins for geothermal systems, and Earth‑AID, which aims to develop an AI‑powered decision‑support system for geohazards. The positionwill contribute to advancing earthquake forecasting and risk management and improve our ability to mitigate induced seismicity in real time.

Responsibilities

Model Integration: Incorporate state‑of‑the‑art models, specifically ETAS‑f and Oracle, into SED's forecast management and scheduling system.

Systematic Evaluation: Perform rigorous model comparison tests to determine forecast quality.

Surrogate Modeling: Build, train, and evaluate machine learning surrogate models to emulate complex seismic behaviours and accelerate forecasting.

Data Engineering: Populate and manage data lakes with large‑scale natural ETAS simulations and synthetic datasets to provide the foundation for AI training.

Scientific Communication: Publish findings in high‑impact journals and present at international conferences.

Profile

Education: MSc degree in Geophysics, Physics, Mathematics, Data Science or a related quantitative field.

Technical Skills: Strong programming proficiency, primarily in Python.

Domain Interest: A deep interest in seismology, induced seismicity, and the application of statistics and machine learning to earth science problems.

Analytical Skills: High‑level quantitative skills and a structured approach to complex problem‑solving.

Communication: Ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment with full proficiency in English (written and oral).

We offer The Swiss Seismological Service operates at the unique intersection of academic research and a federal public mandate, fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are essential for addressing complex geohazard challenges. The candidate will be part of a community that values mutual mentorship and collective growth, supported by a world‑class academic environment: ETH Zurich is currently ranked #1 globally for Earth Sciences (QS World University Rankings 2026). This is a 100 % position with a competitive salary in line with standard ETH doctoral rates, based in the heart of Zurich.

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us – we are consistently working towards a climate‑neutral future.

Curious? So are we. We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents: CV, statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation. Please submit all materials through our online application portal.

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