Joël Bühler has been a research project manager at the University of Applied Sciences of Graubünden since August 2026. His research focuses on environmental and regional economics. Methodologically, he works primarily with causal-analytical approaches; he is open to heterodox and interdisciplinary perspectives.

Joël Bühler is currently completing his PhD in Economics at the University of Barcelona, where he was supported by a scholarship from the Generalitat de Catalunya from 2023 to 2026. His thesis focuses on the empirical analysis of local environmental and public service policies, in particular the effects of inter-municipal cooperation on waste management and social services, the privatisation and remunicipalisation of urban water supply, and the local impacts of renewable energy communities. Whilst studying at the University of Zurich, he worked for the Swiss Trade Union Federation and as a personal assistant to National Councillor Samira Marti, where he dealt with issues relating to tax, climate, social and labour market policy and published on labour market topics. Between 2017 and 2020, he was a member of the municipal council in Liestal, Baselland.

During the summer months, he can often be found cycling his road bike over Alpine passes; in winter, he can be found on the cross-country ski trails from the Engadin to the Valais.