PhD Candidate 100 %

Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine IKIM
Start of employment: immediately or by arrangement
Light is essential for humans and it is known that white light can influence various physiological parameters, such as the hormone melatonin (sleep induction), heart rate variability, and also mental abilities like concentration and attention. Colored light can also affect these. Although light, and especially colored light, plays an increasingly important role in our modern life and is also used therapeutically, the effects of colored light on humans have so far been little scientifically studied. Our research group has already been able to demonstrate some interesting effects of colored light. This research will be continued in the PhD work through further studies. Non-invasive methods such as systemic physiology augmented near-infrared spectroscopy (SPA-fNIRS), electroencephalography, and psychometric measurement methods will be used.

From the results of these studies, we expect that on the one hand, therapeutic approaches with colored light can be purposefully developed and on the other hand, the effects of the increasing use of colored light can be better understood.

We are looking for a motivated, independent person who is pursuing a PhD.

• Conducting project-related studies
• Presenting results at national and international conferences, writing peer-reviewed publications
• Collaboration with internal and external partners
• Co-supervision of master theses and medical dissertations within the framework of this research project

• Completed degree (MSc) in medicine, engineering, physics, psychology
• Interest in the topic
• Solid experience with software and data analysis (ideally Matlab or similar)
• Independent and reliable working style
• Teamwork skills and enjoyment of interdisciplinary work
• Good German and English skills, spoken and written
• Good social skills

• Versatile and challenging work in an exciting research field
• Admission to a Graduate School of the University of Bern
• Supportive and collegial work in an interdisciplinary team
• Salary according to Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) guidelines
• Networking opportunities nationally and internationally
• Employment for 3-4 years

Further information is available from Prof. Dr. Ursula Wolf by email: ursula.wolf@unibe.ch or phone +41 (0)31 684 15 50.

Please send your application documents in a PDF file (including cover letter, CV, publication list, and details of 2 references) electronically by October 6, 2025, to ursula.wolf@unibe.ch.
Applications that do not meet the requirements or are not submitted with all requested documents cannot be considered or answered.