The Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM) of Bern performs research in a range of disciplines relevant to public health (www.ispm.unibe.ch). Groups cut across divisions, facilitating an interdisciplinary approach to research in the fields of clinical epidemiology, social and behavioral health, biostatistics, and international and environmental health. The ISPM is highly reputed for its expertise in health effects of environmental exposures, the spread of infectious disease, and the health of vulnerable groups including children and the elderly.
The Child and Adolescent Health group, headed by Prof. Dr. med. Claudia Kuehni conducts population-based and clinical studies in child health. Within this group, PD Dr. Myrofora Goutaki leads several projects on Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, a rare multi-organ disease.
Would you like to improve knowledge about Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) and contribute to better care of people with PCD? PCD is a rare genetic disease with a prevalence of about 1 in 7, 500 that affects multiple organ systems. From few small studies, we know that PCD and its high treatment burden affect not just quality of life but can also reduce psychological well-being among all members of families touched by PCD. Within the Living with PCD study, the largest participatory study in the field codeveloped with PCD patient support groups worldwide, we will use mixed methods approaches to assess social and psychological well-being among people with PCD and their families and identify factors affecting such well-being. In particular, we will consider anxiety, depression, and psychological resilience. We will assess the influence of upper and lower airway disease on social and psychological well-being, explore treatment burden and identify factors that reduce it and increase adherence to prescribed treatments.

Duties and responsibilities: In your PhD, you will contribute to important aspects of study design, perform in depth interviews with people with PCD and their families, develop questionnaire surveys, analyse data using qualitative and quantitative approaches and will have an active role in managing the study under the direct supervision of a motivated project P.I., in collaboration with a large international multidisciplinary team of PCD experts, psychologists, as well as patient representatives. You will gain a broad understanding of epidemiological and statistical methods in observational and mixed methods studies, gain experience in participatory research, build-up a large professional network, present your results in international conferences, and publish them in peer-reviewed journals.

The job will prepare you for a research career in a scientific setting (University), a clinical setting, or a public health institution, and counts as medical training in Public Health (Category A) or as research time for other medical specialties. Teaching is organised via the graduate schools of the University of Bern (www.gcb.unibe.ch and www.ghs.unibe.ch).

The position is available immediately (later dates can be negotiated). PhD salary rates of the Swiss National Science Foundation apply.

If you look for an exciting PhD position in a highly motivated team, please send your CV (including publication list if applicable) with motivation letter to PD Dr. Myrofora Goutaki (E-Mail schreiben) by November 22nd, 2024. For further information, please contact us by e-mail. Applications must be written in English.