Universität Basel
Basel
PhD Candidate in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology
- 09 August 2026
- 100%
- 4000 Basel
About the job
The Faculty of Psychology is one of the seven faculties of the oldest university in Switzerland. With our focuses on Society & Choice and Health & Interventions, we are successful nationally and internationally in research and study.
The advertised position is in the field of Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology with a special focus on Clinical Gerontopsychology, Psychotraumatology, Stress, Resilience, and Mental Health in Older Age. The appointment is initially for 1 year, with the option to extend by 3 years.
The position is part of the research project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) "Ageing in the Aftermath of Adversity: Long-term effects in Swiss survivors of early-life stress and the intergenerational transmission of vulnerability and resilience". The project investigates how early childhood stress and trauma contribute to differences in health and ageing trajectories as well as to the intergenerational transmission of vulnerability and resilience. The focus is on older people in the German-speaking part of Switzerland who were exposed to stressful or traumatic experiences in childhood and adolescence, as well as their descendants.
The project builds on the NFP76 study "Diverse life courses after difficult experiences in childhood and adolescence". Interested persons are asked to familiarise themselves with this project in preparation: https://www.nfp76.ch/de/ZYwwIq4IOWL9kQwd/projekt/projekt-thoma
To strengthen our team, we are looking for a highly motivated person who will take on central quantitative project components and publish scientifically within the framework of a cumulative dissertation. The position is based at the University of Basel and integrated into the doctoral programme of the Faculty of Psychology.
The advertised position is in the field of Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology with a special focus on Clinical Gerontopsychology, Psychotraumatology, Stress, Resilience, and Mental Health in Older Age. The appointment is initially for 1 year, with the option to extend by 3 years.
The position is part of the research project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) "Ageing in the Aftermath of Adversity: Long-term effects in Swiss survivors of early-life stress and the intergenerational transmission of vulnerability and resilience". The project investigates how early childhood stress and trauma contribute to differences in health and ageing trajectories as well as to the intergenerational transmission of vulnerability and resilience. The focus is on older people in the German-speaking part of Switzerland who were exposed to stressful or traumatic experiences in childhood and adolescence, as well as their descendants.
The project builds on the NFP76 study "Diverse life courses after difficult experiences in childhood and adolescence". Interested persons are asked to familiarise themselves with this project in preparation: https://www.nfp76.ch/de/ZYwwIq4IOWL9kQwd/projekt/projekt-thoma
To strengthen our team, we are looking for a highly motivated person who will take on central quantitative project components and publish scientifically within the framework of a cumulative dissertation. The position is based at the University of Basel and integrated into the doctoral programme of the Faculty of Psychology.
Your Tasks
- You will work on an SNSF-funded research project on early childhood stress, trauma, resilience, mental health, and ageing trajectories.
- You will take on central quantitative project components, especially in the longitudinal follow-up study with older survivors of compulsory care measures and foster placements as well as age-matched control persons.
- You will contribute to the quantitative investigation of the second generation regarding the intergenerational transmission of trauma, vulnerability, and resilience.
- You will prepare data collection with older study participants in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, organise it, and conduct it.
- You will conduct clinical psychological interviews, psychometric assessments, and other project-specific assessments.
- You will participate in biopsychological assessments of stress and resilience.
- You will analyse quantitative data using R, SPSS, or comparable software; depending on your profile, also with longitudinal methods, structural equation modelling, network analyses, or other advanced statistical procedures.
- You will research literature on early childhood stress and trauma, Clinical Gerontopsychology, resilience, mental health in old age, and intergenerational transmission.
- You will write scientific publications within the framework of a cumulative dissertation and present results at national and international conferences.
- You will support the supervision of Master’s students and interns and contribute to teaching in the areas of Clinical Psychology, Psychopathology, or Clinical Gerontopsychology.
Your Profile
- You have a completed Master’s degree in Psychology or an equivalent qualification.
- You are aiming for an academic career and have a strong interest in clinical psychological research.
- You have a strong interest in research with older people; initial experience in this area is an advantage.
- You are interested in early childhood stress, trauma, resilience, mental health in old age, and intergenerational processes.
- You have very good knowledge of quantitative research methods and statistical data analysis; experience with R, SPSS, Stata, Mplus, or comparable programmes is desirable.
- You have a broad methodological interest, especially in longitudinal research, biopsychological research, clinical interviews, and interfaces with qualitative project components.
- You have experience in scientific writing, e.g. in the context of a Master’s thesis, publication, project work, or manuscript.
- You have very good German and English skills, both spoken and written, and understand Swiss German very well; this is essential for contact with study participants.
- You bring high social competence, empathy, and sensitivity in dealing with older people and a potentially burdened study population.
- You handle sensitive research data carefully, responsibly, and confidentially.
- You work highly motivated, independently, efficiently, reliably, and well organised.
- You are willing to travel within the German-speaking part of Switzerland for data collection if necessary.
We Offer You
- PhD within a structured and closely supervised doctoral programme at the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Basel.
- Supervision by PD Dr phil Myriam V. Thoma and integration into a committed, interdisciplinary research team.
- A challenging and socially relevant research area within an SNSF-funded project.
- Participation in a rare longitudinal study with older people affected by early childhood burdens and traumas.
- Opportunities for methodological and scientific development in clinical psychological, gerontopsychological, biopsychological, and quantitative research.
- Collaboration with colleagues with clinical, psychotraumatological, gerontopsychological, and methodological expertise.
- Opportunities for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentation of research at national and international conferences.
- Experience in supervising students and university teaching.
- Flexible working hours and employment conditions according to the guidelines of the University of Basel.
Application / Contact
Have we aroused your interest and do you have the desired qualifications? Then we look forward to receiving your application.
Please submit your application documents via the University of Basel’s online portal; applications via other channels cannot be considered. The review of applications will continue until the position is filled.
Your application should include the following documents:
For further information, please contact us by e-mail at myriam.thoma@unibas.ch and use "PhD Position UNIBAS" as the subject.
Have we aroused your interest and do you have the desired qualifications? Then we look forward to receiving your application.
Please submit your application documents via the University of Basel’s online portal; applications via other channels cannot be considered. The review of applications will continue until the position is filled.
Your application should include the following documents:
- A one-page letter of motivation addressed to PD Dr phil Myriam V. Thoma.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Relevant certificates and diplomas.
- An example of a scientific work, e.g. Master’s thesis, seminar paper, publication, or manuscript.
- If available: list of scientific publications, conference contributions, or research projects.
For further information, please contact us by e-mail at myriam.thoma@unibas.ch and use "PhD Position UNIBAS" as the subject.
University of Basel
4000 Basel
4000 Basel
