PhD in System Dynamics

Here you will find presentations of some of our past and present PhD candidates and their projects.

Main content

Information about the Doctoral Education at the Social Science Faculty.

Recent PhD Projects in System Dynamics

Towards a Post-Normal Integrated Assessment Modelling Praxis to Democratise Climate Policy Response

In my PhD project, I seek to advance a methodological framework for integrated assessment modelling that narrows the gap between modellers/scientists and model users/real people, beyond the science-policy nexus.

Confronting obesity: Co-creating policy with youth

My PhD project consists of building a system dynamics model to understand how different societal factors, stakeholders and institutions associated with obesity interact at various levels.

Firm Valuation and Maximization using System Dynamics

My PhD project investigates the fundamental principles in corporate finance by way of modelling and simulation using the System Dynamics approach.

Participative modeling for transitioning towards a circular construction material industry

In my PhD project, I am looking at the transition towards a circular economy in Switzerland by working with industry partners, experts and policy makers to create a shared vision of this transition and to develop a coherent set of policies.

Loops that Matter

My PhD project is to develop and test a new method for algorithmically determining loop dominance in system dynamics models. My goal is to make both the method and its outputs understandable to all system dynamicists in order to increase understanding of the determinants of model behavior.

Feedback effects of natural capital in the integrated assessment of global warming

My PhD project explores two related aspects of policy questions on climate change: integrated assessment models (IAMs) and public opinion on energy policy in order to identify some reasons for disagreements on climate policy, and to suggest some steps towards better formal and mental models.

Public Policy Planning to Enhance the Resilience of Socio-Ecological Systems to Climate Change

My PhD outlines an approach based on system dynamics for planning for resilience to climate change in food systems. The processes described and the insights gained are novel in the literature since they focus on describing operational aspects of resilience that can be generalised to multiple contexts and problems.

The Dynamics of Food Availability in sub-Saharan Africa

The core part of my PhD project is to build a system dynamics model of the Zambian agricultural and food sector which will be used to identify promising adaptation strategies in the food system in order to ensure food security even under climate change.

11.10.2023