PhD Position in Clinical Epidemiology, Public Health and Health Systems

60-100% / 01.09.2025

The University of Basel has an international reputation of outstanding achievements in research and teaching. Founded in 1460, it is the oldest university in Switzerland and has a history of success going back more than 550 years.

Your position

The successful applicant will work under the supervision of the Principal Investigator (Prof. Dr. Maria Katapodi) and collaborate with members of the CASCADE Consortium, a multidisciplinary team involving investigators from basic science, epidemiology, genetic medicine, nursing, psychology, public health, and sociology from the German, French, and Italian parts of Switzerland. The objectives of the advertised PhD position are to:

• Assume responsibility for recruitment of participants, data entry and data management, development of follow up surveys, testing of psychometric properties of instruments, data analyses, and dissemination of findings with manuscripts and conference presentations.
• Assist in efforts to obtain additional funding for the CASCADE Study.
• Participate in teaching activities for Master's and PhD level courses and support Prof. Dr. Katapodi in academic management tasks.

Your profile

• We are looking for a dynamic, reliable, and motivated student with an M.Sc. in bioinformatics, clinical research, epidemiology, nursing, psychology, public health, or other health related sciences with outstanding grades and evidence of scholarship.
• Experience in oncology and/or cancer epidemiology and/or cancer registries is required.
• Sound quantitative methodological and statistical skills and good knowledge of common computer programs (e.g., Office) and statistical analyses programs such as R, Python, SPSS, etc.
• Ability to work independently in an interdisciplinary and international team.
• Proficiency in writing and speaking English and German, or French, or Italian is required
• strong skills in epidemiology
• previous AI-based analytical experience is highly desired

We offer you

• The PhD will be carried out within a 3-year project, starting in September 2025 (negotiable). The successful candidate will have access to data from the CASCADE study and will determine the focus of his/her program of research under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Katapodi and with the collaboration of members of the CASCADE Consortium.
• Prof. Dr. Katapodi leads an innovation-driven team aiming to address pressing and future healthcare needs of families affected by hereditary cancer syndromes within a multidisciplinary context.
• We offer a stimulating international working environment and collaborative relationships with outstanding leading interdisciplinary teams. Training experiences are embedded in the educational and research infrastructure of the Department of Clinical Research, SSPH+, and PPHS at the University of Basel.
• Compensation according to the official payment structure of the Swiss National Science Foundation for PhD level students.