PhD Candidate PROTECT-SH

Directorate of Teaching and Research

from 1 January 2027 or by arrangement

The research department of the University Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (KJP) at the University Psychiatric Centre (UPZ) Bern deals with questions of the origin as well as the prevention, early detection and treatment of mental disorders in childhood and adolescence. At the interface between research and care, we have the unique opportunity to gain scientific insights directly from clinical practice and to promptly translate these into diagnostic and therapeutic concepts. We use a wide range of modern research methods to better understand mental disorders and to develop and evaluate innovative diagnostic and therapeutic procedures – increasingly also digital. In this context, our working group under the direction of Prof. Michael Kaess is looking for a PhD candidate for a doctoral project on the topic "Self-Harm and New Media" within the framework of PROTECT-SH, a consortium project funded by Horizon Europe with partners in seven countries. PROTECT-SH investigates in a multicentre longitudinal cohort the mechanisms by which social media use promotes or protects against self-injurious and suicidal behaviour in adolescents and young adults. Clinical interviews, questionnaires, Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) and passive smartphone data are combined; based on this, a digital intervention is developed and evaluated in two large randomised controlled trials (prevention and clinical intervention). You will be involved in conducting the cohort study and the two intervention studies at the Bern site – from recruitment through diagnostic assessments to supporting participants in the EMA and intervention phases – and will address questions in your doctorate regarding the mechanisms between social media and self-injurious behaviour or the effectiveness of the digital intervention. We offer an attractive research environment in an internationally successful research group, comprehensive supervision of the dissertation, diverse training opportunities (e.g. clinical-diagnostic interviews, modern statistical methods) as well as networking in a large European consortium. The position is limited to 3 years with an optional extension to 4 years. Remuneration is according to the guidelines of the University of Bern.

Your tasks

• You recruit and support adolescents and young adults from clinical and non-clinical settings and conduct structured clinical-diagnostic interviews as well as questionnaire surveys
• You conduct smartphone-based assessments and monitor these. In addition, you contribute to the implementation and quality assurance of the digital intervention at the Bern site
• You take over data management as well as the preparation and analysis of data within the framework of your own dissertation
• You contribute to ethics applications and study documents and coordinate with international project partners
• You publish your results and present them at scientific events

Your profile

• You have a completed Master’s degree in Psychology
• You have excellent German and English skills
• You work reliably, carefully and independently
• You have good knowledge of empirical methods and statistics
• You communicate confidently and competently in interdisciplinary exchange
• Ideally, you have prior experience in clinical or therapeutic work with children and adolescents, for example through internships
• You are curious, open to new technologies and willing to familiarise yourself with them

Your contacts

Prof. Dr. med. Michael Kaess

Michael Kaess answers your specialist questions: T: +41 58 630 85 52

For questions about the application process, please contact

Nicole Portner

Email: bewerbungen@upz-bern.ch T: +41 58 630 96 71

The UPZ

The University Psychiatric Centre Bern (UPZ) is the leading competence centre for psychiatry and psychotherapy in the capital region as a university clinic. It ensures psychiatric care in the canton of Bern along the entire care chain, from early detection through outpatient, day clinic and inpatient therapies to rehabilitation and forensics. With over 30 locations, the UPZ offers a comprehensive care network. In addition, the UPZ makes an important contribution in the areas of teaching, training and research.

Learn more

https://jobs.upz-bern.ch/de/warum-upz

Your workplace

Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern 60