Research Associate (PhD Candidate or Postdoc)

Are you motivated to contribute your experience and benefit from the university environment?

The University Psychiatric Clinics Basel offer a stimulating environment where people are committed to others, make a difference, and develop themselves. We place great value on close interprofessional collaboration and foster a respectful and open culture. This includes attractive employment conditions with suitable working models and progressive social benefits.

The Clinic for Children and Adolescents is specifically expanding its specialised university care services. It combines excellent clinical care with research, teaching, and innovation, developing new treatment concepts for children, adolescents, and their families. The focus is on research into virtual reality and digital interventions at the interface with clinical care. We are looking for a committed person who wants to advance this research and help shape the future of child and adolescent psychiatry at a university clinic.

The position is based in research and closely linked to the newly established Eating Disorders Centre. The focus is on the development and scientific evaluation of digital interventions for the mental health of children and adolescents, as well as the investigation of their clinical application. The call is aimed at individuals pursuing a doctorate, postdocs, and research associates with relevant skills and interests.

Research Associate (PhD Candidate or Postdoc) for Virtual Reality and Digital Interventions 60-100%; Clinic for Children and Adolescents

Your Tasks

• Co-design and development of research on virtual reality and digital interventions at the research department of the Clinic for Children and Adolescents
• Development of independent scientific questions at the interface of technology, psychological mechanisms, and clinical application, especially in the area of eating disorders
• Design, planning, and execution of experimental and clinical studies as well as methodologically sound analysis of collected data
• Programming and further development of VR applications, digital research tools, and analysis procedures independently and in collaboration with technical partners
• Development of third-party funding applications and acquisition of research funding
• Publication of scientific results and presentation at national and international conferences
• Methodological support of junior researchers and contribution to a cooperative, transparent research culture
• Close interdisciplinary collaboration with clinical teams and scientific partners to make new approaches usable for care

Your Competences

• Completed doctorate or relevant skills and prior experience in a relevant field, such as psychology, computer science, neuroscience, medicine, engineering, or a related area; the fit of your scientific and technical skills is decisive
• Strong methodological competence in planning and analysing empirical studies, especially with quantitative and experimental approaches
• Very good programming skills and experience in independently implementing scientific or technical projects
• Practical experience with virtual reality, for example in application development, conducting studies, or integrating and analysing VR data
• Experience in successfully acquiring third-party funding
• Proven publication record and ability to develop independent research questions
• Content interest in mental health in childhood and adolescence and willingness to engage deeply with eating disorders and their treatment
• Initiative, independent and structured working style, and enjoyment of interdisciplinary collaboration
• Very good English and German skills, spoken and written

Your Prospects with Us

• The opportunity to actively help shape the development of a new university focus on eating disorders
• A varied research activity with great scope for design
• Close integration of clinical care, research, and teaching
• Individual development opportunities within an academic career in child and adolescent psychiatry
• Support in developing your own research projects and acquiring competitive third-party funding
• A committed, multiprofessional team, thorough induction, and a modern university working environment
• Attractive and contemporary employment conditions under the collective labour agreement (e.g. minimum 30 days holiday/time off per year and above-average pension fund benefits)
• Attractive and diverse continuing education programme (internal course programme, support for external training, specialist and leadership development)
• TNW network: U-subscription at a discounted price (job ticket)
• Free sports offerings on and off the UPK campus (such as Pilates, Power Yoga, gym; discounted fitness centre offer)

The position is available from 1 January 2027 or by arrangement and initially limited to one year. A longer-term appointment will be initiated if suitable.

Do you have questions? Contact us

For general matters, Isabelle Bühler, HR Business Partner, +41 61 325 50 48 is available. Dr David Bürgin & Dr Eva Unternaehrer, Research and Teaching Unit at the Clinic for Children and Adolescents (ForschungUPKKJ@upk.ch) will be happy to provide further specialist information. We look forward to your online application. Unfortunately, applications by email cannot be considered.

About UPK Basel: https://www.upk.ch/ueber-uns.html

Would you like to get a first impression? Then feel free to take our virtual 360-degree tour on our site plan:

Building T: https://tourmkr.com/F133qAfX0j/45559814p&89.98h&89.6t