PhD student: Pulmonary outcomes and lung function after childhood cancer

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PhD student: Pulmonary outcomes and lung function after childhood cancer
Start Date
Available immediately or by arrangement
Employment Relationship
fixed-term, 3 years
Institution / Workplace
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine
Project Description
With continuously improving treatments, nearly 90% of children diagnosed with cancer can be cured. However, many survivors develop long-term health problems caused by intensive cancer therapy. Pulmonary complications are frequent and may progress silently for years before becoming clinically apparent. Yet little is known on how lung function evolves in childhood cancer survivors, and how this relates to previous treatments, physical activity and physical functioning.
In your PhD, you investigate lung health in children and adolescents, who have been cured from cancer and you study lung function over time. The project follows children from three University hospitals longitudinally using a comprehensive set of pulmonary function tests, clinical assessments, and questionnaires.
Your Role
During your PhD you will:
Coordinate an ongoing prospective multicentre cohort study in the University Children's Hospitals in Bern, Basel and Geneva
Collaborate with study nurses, paediatric oncologists, and paediatric pulmonologists to support recruitment and clinical assessments
Collect and integrate clinical, treatment and pulmonary function data from multiple sources
Apply and develop your skills in epidemiological research, data management and statistical analysis
Present your results in (inter)national conferences and publish them in peer-reviewed journals
You have:
A university degree ideally in medicine (MD), possibly in physiotherapy or physiology
A strong interest in respiratory disease, epidemiology, and paediatric oncology
Ideally clinical experience
A strong interest in epidemiology and biostatistics; ideally experience in data analysis
Fluency in English and German and/or French, ideally all
What we offer
Work in a motivated and competent research team of clinicians, epidemiologists and statisticians
Preparation for a research career in a clinical setting (paediatric teaching hospital), in a university (epidemiology or preventive medicine), or a public health institution
The PhD counts (partially) as medical training (Paediatrics, Public Health, or similar)
A lively graduate school at the University of Bern
Salary according to the Swiss National Science Foundation salary scales for PhD students
Your Benefits
International reputation
Collaborative environment and ambitious team
Strong research infrastructure and international network
Central location in the heart of Bern
Working at the University of Bern
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Application and Contact
If you are looking for an exciting position in a highly motivated interdisciplinary team, please send your CV with motivation letter to ISPM HR Office (
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) and Ma?a ?arkovi? (
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) by August 15, 2026.
Questions about the position?
Ma?a ?arkovi?
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Questions about the application?
ISPM HR Office
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