PhD Position Neuropsychology, Neuropaediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation

Children and adolescents are at risk of developing cognitive, motor, language-related and behavioural difficulties due to various illnesses and treatment-related burdens. These impairments can significantly complicate school life, education and everyday coping. At the same time, effective and long-term rehabilitation strategies that specifically address the individual needs of those affected are lacking.
This is where our research begins. We want to better understand how innovative, everyday cognitive rehabilitation programmes can sustainably support those affected. The potential of digital training approaches such as the Mio Training and the combination of digital and therapeutic offerings for long-term rehabilitation, school and everyday life will be investigated.
The Mio Study examines the effectiveness of the Mio Training after cancer. The Mio Training was developed to specifically promote and strengthen the cognitive development of children and adolescents by improving metacognition. The training combines cognitive and motor training tasks with metacognitive questions that enhance understanding and awareness of one’s own thought processes.
Building on the Mio Study, a follow-up project, Mio-Blended, is now to be established. This project aims to combine the Mio Training with analogue therapeutic offerings. The goal is to further develop, co-design and evaluate the effectiveness of a sustainable and everyday rehabilitation concept for paediatric neuropsychology.

What to expect

• Participation in the Mio Study: recruitment of study participants, study management as well as planning and conducting study visits
• Further development and adaptation of the Mio Training under investigation
• Assistance in conceptualising and establishing Mio-Blended: development of the study concept, preparation of the study protocol and submission to the Cantonal Ethics Committee
• Effectiveness study: conducting an effectiveness study on Mio-Blended. You will be involved in developing study materials, planning study procedures and study management, as well as coordinating the involved specialist departments
• Establishing collaborations with therapists, clinical departments and other relevant partners for the development, implementation and evaluation of the rehabilitation concept
• Writing your own scientific articles for high-ranking international journals and presenting results at national and international congresses
• Assistance in applying for research grants

What you bring

• Successfully completed Master’s degree in Psychology or a comparable discipline
• Strong interest in paediatric neuropsychology, evidence-based rehabilitation research and working with children and adolescents
• Knowledge of neuropsychological and/or psychotherapeutic therapy would be a great advantage
• Experience with quantitative research methods and statistics (e.g. R, Python)
• Independent working style, very good social skills
• Exceptional commitment to initiating and implementing research projects
• Very good German and English skills are essential, French skills are an advantage

Our offer

• Opportunity for independent study management, research coordination and conducting research projects
• Work in a highly interdisciplinary environment of clinic and research (neuropsychology, paediatrics, neurology)
• Participation in a renowned PhD programme (Graduate School of Health Science, Bern)
• Weekly training opportunities in paediatrics, neurology and neuroradiology
• Payment according to the guidelines of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
• Close supervision by Saskia Salzmann (Neuropsychologist) and Prof. Dr phil. Regula Everts (Head Neuropsychologist)
• Remuneration according to the SNSF guidelines for PhDs

Are you interested? We look forward to receiving your application!

Questions about the position?

For further information please contact MSc Saskia Salzmann, Neuropsychologist

+41 31 664 59 84