Research Assistant - 20%

With more than 13,000 employees representing 160 professions, the Geneva University Hospitals are a reference institution at the national and international level. To learn more about our institution, take a few minutes to consult our 2025 retrospective by clicking here .

With over 1,300 employees, the Department of Psychiatry fulfils a triple mission focusing on the treatment of mental disorders, education, and research.

In the field of clinical care, the department guarantees a high-level care provision, based on evidence and centred on the needs of patients. It integrates in a coordinated manner current medical and psychotherapeutic approaches, nursing care, as well as other therapeutic interventions, in an interprofessional approach based on quality, commitment, and respect for the individual.

High-quality teaching is also provided by the department to students as well as to doctors in training for specialist certification, raising awareness of psychological, biological, and social dimensions. The department also supports quality training in psychotherapy.

Finally, the department seeks to improve the quality of care through research. To this end, it conducts academic and clinical patient-oriented research meeting a high standard of quality.

The psychiatric specialties service ensures diagnosis and care for adult patients with the following issues: difficulties within couples and families, autism spectrum and intellectual development disorders, sexology, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, sleep disorders, and emotional regulation disorders.

As part of the project: "Trauma-focused mentalisation, assessing the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a new treatment for patients with borderline personality disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder", two 20% research assistant positions will be available within the Emotional Regulation Disorders (ERD) unit.

In your role, you will join a committed clinical research team.

You will participate in organisational tasks for the study and ensure the recruitment of participants, conducting repeated clinical scientific assessments as part of the longitudinal follow-up of participants. In this capacity, you will conduct semi-structured interviews (CAPS-5) and questionnaires, in accordance with research protocols.

You will participate in the collection, entry, and management of data within the REDCap platform, ensuring their quality and reliability. Depending on your experience and commitment, you may also potentially contribute to qualitative data analyses and the dissemination of scientific results.

Recognised for your rigour, motivation, excellent organisational skills, and interpersonal qualities, you demonstrate flexibility and autonomy in managing your activities, while knowing your limits and when to ask questions, to ensure the quality of your research work and patient safety. You show flexibility in time management (recruitment period may fluctuate according to study needs). You will work in a stimulating environment fostering scientific collaboration and the development of knowledge in clinical psychology.

Holder of a university degree in psychology (master’s or near completion of master’s) or in a field deemed equivalent, you show a strong interest in clinical research and are motivated to contribute to scientific projects in the fields of personality disorders and psychotrauma. Previous experience with these clinical populations is an asset.

You have prior experience in research, notably in participant recruitment as well as data collection and management.

Experience in conducting semi-structured interviews, collecting qualitative data, and thematic analysis is a further important asset for this position.

Comfortable with IT tools and common office suites, you are able to work with research databases and ensure rigorous management of collected information.

Recognised for your organisational skills, reliability, and rigour, you demonstrate autonomy in carrying out your activities while collaborating effectively with the various project stakeholders.

You have excellent communication skills and are fluent in French, both spoken and written. You also possess good writing skills in English, enabling you to operate in a scientific research environment.

Finally, your interest in clinical psychology, particularly in the field of personality disorders and trauma in adults and young adults, allows you to fully engage with the objectives of the research project.

• Workplace: Rue de Lausanne 20bis
• Start date: 01.12.2026
• Number of positions: 2
• Work rate: 20%
• Job grade: 14
• Contract: Fixed-term – renewable for 2-3 years
• Application deadline: 04.11.2026
• Contact for information: Dr E. Rüfenacht, Deputy Head of Unit ad interim, evanina.rufenacht@hug.ch

Your application file must include a motivation letter, your curriculum vitae, copies of diplomas and certificates required for the position, and the last 2 work certificates.

This announcement is addressed equally to women and men.

Wishing to engage in the fight against unemployment, the HUG encourage applications from the Cantonal Employment Office.

Only applications submitted via the recruitment platform will be considered. Paper and email applications will not be processed.