We are recruiting Doctoral Position for a cross-border research project (funded by SNSF’s & DFG’s WEAVE scheme) on Virtual Reality, jointly hosted at ETH Zurich (Chair of Technology Marketing) and the TUM Campus Munich (Professorship of Marketing & Technology). 

The two positions (Position A: ETH Zurich - technology & VR development focus; Position B: TUM Campus Munich - behavioral & psychology focus ) are complementary. We encourage you to indicate in your application which profile fits you best; strong candidates who bridge both are also welcome.

This job announcements links to Position A.

The SNF & DFG funded project investigates how people perceive time and space in immersive virtual environments, approaches related questions in an interdisciplinary manner (i.e., at the intersection of psychology, technology, and human–computer interaction). We welcome candidates with a strong interest in fundamental research and, ideally, prior experience in VR research. The project duration is set for three years. 

Work directly with the Principal Investigators at ETH Zurich and TUM to develop the research agenda, refine study designs, and drive the project toward top-tier publications.

Position A — ETH Zurich (technology & VR development focus)

• Primary emphasis on building and engineering immersive VR environments and experimental apparatus, while the candidate will be involved in developmental tasks, they should have a strong interest in fundamental research, and have a general entrepreneurial mindset  
• The candidate is willing to learn and apply fundamental concepts from psychology
• Well suited to backgrounds in human–computer interaction, game engineering, or media informatics
• Conduct rigorous research with the ambition to publish in leading international journals
• Design and implement VR-based experiments and analyze primary and secondary data
• Collaborate with colleagues, international co-authors, and industry partners
• Contribute to student supervision / VR-research seminars, or provide operational support for the project

We are looking for candidates meeting several of the following:

• An excellent Master’s degree fitting either Position A
• A strong interest in fundamental research tackling questions on the perception of time and space in virtual immersive environments
• Solid quantitative skills (R, Python, or Stata)
• Programming ability relevant to your target position: hands-on experience with a VR engine (Unity or Unreal) is expected; familiarity with OpenXR, Blender, or similar tools is an advantage
• High personal initiative, an entrepreneurial mindset, and the drive to thrive in an ambitious, collaborative research environment
• Professional proficiency in English (C1/C2 or native) 
• German/Swiss German is a plus

• Open an collaborative working environment at the Chair of Technology Marketing (ETH Zürich)
• Contract & compensation: a 3-year contract at standard doctoral rates (SNSF rates at ETH Zurich). Further details are provided during the interview process.
• Employment: Zurich: Chair of Technology Marketing
• Doctoral training: access to the doctoral programs at ETH Zurich and TUM, plus external opportunities for continuous quantitative training (e.g., GSERM St. Gallen/Lugano, ICPSR at the University of Michigan), including potential research stays in Germany or abroad (e.g., Netherlands, Korea, United States, Canada, Spain, etc.).
• Environment: interdisciplinary teams and collaboration with top international partners (e.g., ESADE, ETH Zurich, Oxford, Yonsei).

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents (in a single PDF):

• Cover letter stating your motivation to pursue a Ph.D.
• Any prior experience in VR (ideally linked to perception of time and space)
• CV
• Transcript of records
• Master's thesis (if available)
• Two references as contacts

Further information about the Departement can be found on our Website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to David Finken, [email protected] (no applications).

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.