PhD Assistant for SUPEA (12592-RE-230-2025)

Research

PhD Assistant for SUPEA

As part of the project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) "BODYimage", we are looking for a PhD Assistant at 80% - 100% on a fixed-term contract starting December 1, 2025 (or to be agreed) to lead the quantitative axis and carry out a doctoral thesis at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM) of the University of Lausanne (UNIL) in the field of Human and Social Sciences of Medicine and Health.

Context

The Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) is one of the 5 Swiss university hospitals. Thanks to its collaboration with the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University of Lausanne and EPFL, CHUV plays a leading role in medical care, medical research, and training.

The University Service of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (SUPEA) plays a central reference role in psychiatric treatments for children and adolescents in the canton of Vaud (Central, North, and West sectors). The Service supports a vision of so-called community psychiatry and therefore offers patients and families outpatient care nearby. We also provide inpatient care, ensure liaison in somatic pediatric hospitals, and intermediate care services in day centers and mobile teams, in collaboration with external network partners. Additionally, we carry out training and research missions.

The Research Unit has two main missions:

• Better understand resilience factors related to the emergence and maintenance of psychopathologies in children and adolescents
• Evaluate clinical practices and therapeutic tools offered to patients in order to adapt and improve care.

BODYimage Project: How does the pursuit of perfection amplify the impact of social media exposure on body image, eating disorders, and associated mental health problems – a gender perspective.

Mission

• Lead the quantitative axis of the BODYimage project within the framework of the doctoral thesis
• Lead the participatory research axis of the BODYimage project within the framework of the doctoral thesis with other doctoral students
• Fulfill the academic requirements related to the doctoral thesis in Human and Social Sciences of Medicine and Health at UNIL
• The BODYimage project is a multi-center work, in French-speaking Switzerland (SUPEA and Unisanté) and German-speaking (PUK, Zurich)
• Participate in SUPEA's research activities.

Profile

• You hold a master's degree in psychology, a medical doctorate, or an equivalent diploma
• You have a strong interest in clinical research in child and adolescent psychology
• You have a good knowledge of English and master French; German would be an asset
• You are dynamic, open-minded, autonomous, assertive, proactive, and adapt easily, with a "solution-oriented" personality that thrives in a collaborative environment
• Knowledge of statistical methods would be an asset
• Experience in evaluating mental health problems in young people would be an asset.

We offer

Becoming a collaborator of the Lausanne University Hospital means benefiting from:

• First-class social benefits, 20 days paternity leave, and 4 months maternity leave (with the possibility of an additional month of breastfeeding leave)
• Regular salary progression adapted to responsibilities
• A 13th salary and 25 days of vacation per year
• A right to at least three days of training per year, with access to a varied offer within the CHUV Training Center and partner training centers of the State of Vaud
• Facilitated access to one of the 500 furnished apartments offered in the surrounding neighborhoods for people relocating to Switzerland from abroad
• Social, cultural, and economic benefits offered to members of the H-Oxygène association
• Benefits offered within the mobility plan (discounts on public transport subscriptions, promotion of "Mobility" vehicles, and discounts on the purchase of electric bikes)
• Quality company restaurants in each hospital building with preferential rates.

Contact and application submission

Contact for information about the position: Prof. Kerstin von Plessen, head of SUPEA, Tel. 021 314 19 60 (secretariat).

Since all our applications are processed electronically, we kindly ask you to apply exclusively online by clicking the APPLY button at the bottom of the announcement.

If you have difficulty applying, you can consult our procedure on how to apply online. If for technical reasons you cannot apply online, we invite you to contact our Recruitment Unit, which will assist you in your process, either by email at e.recrutement@chuv.ch or by phone at 021 314 85 70

CHUV applies the highest quality standards in its recruitment processes. Furthermore, committed to promoting diversity among our collaborators, we pay attention to different life paths and do everything possible to ensure equal treatment and avoid any discrimination. We look forward to receiving your application.

We kindly ask placement agencies to note that applications submitted directly by them on our recruitment platform are not accepted and cannot be invoiced. Thank you for your understanding.