Two PhD positions in psychology at the University of Geneva, Switzerland

The Consumer Decision and Sustainable Behavior Lab at the University of Geneva, led by Prof. Dr. Tobias Brosch, is looking to fill two 4-year PhD positions in psychology. Located at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences and the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences of the University of Geneva, our lab integrates theoretical approaches and methods from cognitive and social psychology, the affective sciences, behavioral economics, and neuroscience to investigate the determinants of sustainable decision-making, and to use these insights to develop behavioral intervention strategies and help improve policy making (www.unige.ch/fapse/decisionlab).

Project: The successful candidates will work in a transdisciplinary research project entitled “Understanding and promoting public biodiversity valuation and engagement”, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The aims of the project are (i) to better understand the psychological and contextual factors influencing biodiversity valuation and engagement in Switzerland, and (ii) to develop and implement evidence-based strategies to promote public engagement and policy support for biodiversity. To this end, a large-scale online survey will be conducted to assess biodiversity valuation and associated cognitive, affective, and social psychological factors using questionnaires, stated preference surveys, and choice experiments. Based on these findings, evidence-based intervention strategies will be developed together with the project partners who are key stakeholders in biodiversity conservation from the Canton and the City of Geneva, including communication strategies that will be co-developed with the Biodiversity Services of the Canton of Geneva, educational strategies using extended reality approaches that will be co-developed with the Natural History Museum Geneva, and immersive experiences with biodiversity that will be co-developed with the Bioparc Geneva and the Botanical Garden Geneva. All intervention strategies will be implemented and evaluated using Randomized Controlled Trials. Taken together, the research project addresses critical gaps in understanding and promoting public engagement with biodiversity conservation in Switzerland, aiming to catalyze positive behavioral changes and policy support through innovative strategies. The PhD students will work on selected parts of the overall project, depending on their interests and competences. The project involves regular interactions with stakeholders inside and outside academia, including project partners and the wider public.

Working conditions: The Consumer Decision and Sustainable Behavior Lab provides a stimulating research environment to work on some of today’s most pressing societal challenges. The successful candidates will benefit from a large interdisciplinary network and from excellent working conditions, including a competitive salary (starting salary about CHF 50’000) and funding for travel and further education. Geneva is located between the Alps, the Jura, and Lake Geneva, and is noted for its international character and high quality of life. Geneva consistently ranks among the most attractive cities worldwide to live in.

Requirements and application process: Applicants need to have an excellent two-year master’s degree in psychology as well as excellent methodological and statistical skills. Moreover, very good oral and written skills in English are required. A good knowledge of French or the commitment to learn French quickly are crucial to ensure interactions with project stakeholders. The successful applicants need to be ready to move to Geneva and should be firmly dedicated to pursuing a scientific career. Interested applicants are asked to send their application as a single pdf document entitled NAME_application.pdf including (i) a cover letter outlining their motivation to pursue a PhD in the context of this project, (ii) their CV, (iii) a scanned copy of their M.Sc. diploma with grades (or the latest transcript of grades), (iv) a sample document of academic writing in English (e.g., previous publications as first author, M.Sc. thesis) and (v) one letter of recommendation to tobias.brosch@unige.ch. Review of applications will begin on August 15, 2025, and will continue on a rolling basis until the two positions have been filled. The earliest starting date is November 1, 2025. For questions, please email tobias.brosch@unige.ch.