Doktorandin / Doktorand PROTECT-SH — Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste Bern (UPD)

Full description

Teaching and Research Directorate

The research department of the University Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (KJP) of the Universitarian Psychiatric Center (UPZ) Bern deals with questions of the development 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 everyday clinical practice and to transfer these in turn in a timely manner 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 methods – increasingly also digitally. In this context, our working group under the direction of Prof. Michael Kaess is a doctoral student for a doctoral project on “Self-Harm and New Media” within the framework of PROTECT-SH, a joint project with partners in seven countries funded by Horizon Europe. In a multicentre longitudinal cohort, PROTECT-SH investigates the mechanisms by which the use of social media promotes or protects against self-harming and suicidal behavior in adolescents and young adults. This will combine clinical interviews, questionnaires, Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) and passive smartphone data

• Based on this, a digital intervention is developed and evaluated in two large randomized-controlled trials (prevention and clinical intervention).

You will participate in the implementation of the cohort study and the two intervention studies at the Berne site – from recruitment to diagnostic surveys and the support of participants in the EMA and intervention phases – and will work on questions about the mechanisms between social media and self-harming behavior 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 procedures) as well as networking in a large European consortium. The position is limited to 3 years with optional extension to 4 years. The remuneration is carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the University of Bern.

Their tasks

• They recruit and accompany adolescents and young adults from clinical and non-clinical settings and conduct structured clinical-diagnostic interviews and questionnaire surveys.
• They conduct and monitor smartphone-based surveys. You also participate in the implementation and quality assurance of the digital intervention at the Berne location
• You take over the data management as well as the preparation and evaluation of the data as part of your own dissertation
• They participate in ethics proposals and study documents and coordinate with the international project partners
• You publish your results and present them at scientific events

Your profile

• You have completed a Master's degree in Psychology
• They bring excellent German and English skills
• They work reliably, carefully and independently
• You have good knowledge of empirical methods and statistics
• You communicate safely and competently in an interdisciplinary exchange
• Ideally, they bring previous experience in clinical or therapeutic work with children and adolescents, for example through internships.
• They are curious, open to new technologies and ready to familiarize themselves with them

The UPZ

The Universitäre Psychiatrische Zentrum Bern (UPZ) is the leading centre of excellence for psychiatry and psychotherapy in the capital region. It ensures psychiatric care in the canton of Bern along the entire supply chain, from early diagnosis to outpatient, day-care and inpatient therapies to rehabilitation and forensics. With more than 30 locations, the UPZ offers a comprehensive supply network. In addition, the UPZ makes an important contribution in the areas of teaching, training and further education as well as research.

Your place of work

University Psychiatric Center Bern (UPZ) Bolligenstrasse 111, 3000 Bern 60