Dr. Christine Eriksen

Professor

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Biography

Christine Eriksen is a Principal Investigator for the FiRES project at ETH Zürich, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Her research focuses on the social dimensions of disasters, emphasizing human interactions with wildfires. Eriksen investigates the cultural norms, political agendas, climate change effects, and environmental history that shape people's resilience to wildfires. With over 100 publications, Eriksen's extensive work builds on decades of fire research and case studies from Australia, North America, Europe, and Africa. For more insights into her work, visit her website.

Research Interests

Experience

Principal Investigator

2025-01-01 — Present

FiRES Project, SNSF Consolidator Grant Holder • ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Leading the FiRES project focused on wildfire resilience.

A/Professor

2023-01-01 — 2025-01-01

Geographies of Disasters Group, Institute of Geography • University of Bern, Switzerland

Associate Professorial role with a focus on disaster research.

Honorary Associate Professor

2020-01-01 — Present

School of Geography and Sustainable Communities • University of Wollongong, Australia

Honorary position contributing to research in geography and sustainability.

Senior Researcher

2020-01-01 — 2023-01-01

Risk Resilience Team, Center for Security Studies • ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Conducting research on risks and resilience related to security issues.

Visiting Scholar

2019-01-01 — 2019-01-01

ETH Zürich, University of Manchester, University of Copenhagen •

Engaged in collaborative research across multiple institutions.

Senior Lecturer

2018-01-01 — 2020-01-01

School of Geography and Sustainable Communities • University of Wollongong, Australia

Taught and conducted research in human geography.

Senior Research Fellow

2015-01-01 — 2018-01-01

Australian Research Council DECRA-awarded Fellowship • University of Wollongong, Australia

Worked on research focused on Australian fire ecology.

Research Fellow

2013-01-01 — 2015-01-01

Australian Centre for Cultural Environmental Research & Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires • University of Wollongong, Australia

Conducted research on fire risk management.

Visiting Scholar

2011-01-01 — 2011-01-01

Department of Geography and Planning, California State University • Chico, California, USA

Engaged in research on geography.

Associate Research Fellow

2010-01-01 — 2012-01-01

Australian Centre for Cultural Environmental Research • University of Wollongong, Australia

Worked on cultural and environmental research.

Training Administration Officer

2004-01-01 — 2006-01-01

Expedition Advisory Centre, Royal Geographical Society • UK

Managed training and administration for expeditions.

Requirements for ETH Zurich

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.4
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Total
Required:100
GRE General
Verbal
Required:159
Verbal Percentile
Required:80
Quantitative
Required:168
Quantitative Percentile
Required:81
Analytical Writing
Required:4.5
Writing Percentile
Required:85
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in a related field (Engineering, Natural Sciences, or Mathematics) Minimum 180 ECTS credits Subject-specific knowledge equivalent to ETH Bachelor's programs
Application Checklist
  • Bachelor's degree diploma or transcript
  • Official academic transcripts
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Letter of Motivation (1 page)
  • Two academic recommendation letters
  • English language proficiency certificate
  • GRE General Test (for non-EU/EFTA applicants)
Specialization Notes

The GRE is mandatory for students who did not obtain their Bachelor's degree in an EU/EFTA state. Some departments (e.g., Computer Science) have specific ECTS credit requirements in core subjects.