PhD Student in Childhood Cancer Epidemiology 100 %

Period: PhD contract for 3 years, start as soon as possible
Supervisors: Dr. Grit Sommer and Prof. Dr. med. Claudia Kühni
Place: ISPM University of Bern, Switzerland
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.

Childhood cancer is a rare disease that affects approximately 1 in 350 children per year. Currently more than 85% of children with cancer can be cured. Yet we know little about long-term trajectories of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as survivors age, their life circumstances change, and health problems become more common. In your PhD project you will investigate changes in HRQOL and explore the drivers of unfavorable HRQOL trajectories that involve specific health problems and behaviors. It will be embedded in the nation-wide Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (SCCSS).

The Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (SCCSS, https://www.swiss-ccss.ch) is a broad research program on long-term health, psychosocial outcomes and quality of life after childhood cancer, with national studies and several international collaborations. You will be part of a dynamic and multidisciplinary team and work closely with researchers, epidemiologists, data managers, other PhD students, and clinicians. You will gain an in-depth understanding of epidemiological and biostatistical techniques, conduct questionnaire surveys, present your results at (inter)national conferences, and publish in peer-reviewed journals.

PhD Student in Childhood Cancer Epidemiology

• A university degree (MD, MSc or equivalent) in psychology, health sciences, biology, medicine, or related fields
• A strong interest in child health and/or public health
• An interest in biostatistics, ideally with experience in data analysis and statistical software such as R or Stata.
• Fluency in German or French, and English

• Work in a motivated and competent research team
• Preparation for a research career in a University (epidemiology or preventive medicine) or a public health institution
• A lively and international graduate school at the University of Bern
• Salary according to the Swiss National Science Foundation Salary Scales for PhD students