PhD Position Neuropsychology, Neuropediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation

Children and adolescents are at risk of developing cognitive, motor, language-related, and behavioral difficulties due to various diseases as well as treatment-related burdens. These impairments can significantly complicate school daily life, education, and coping with everyday life. At the same time, effective and long-term rehabilitation strategies that specifically address the individual needs of those affected are lacking.
This is where our research begins. We want to better understand how innovative, everyday-oriented cognitive rehabilitation offerings can contribute to sustainably supporting those affected. In doing so, it should be investigated what potential digital training approaches such as the Mio-Training (https://www.researchprotocols.org/2026/1/e95139) and the combination of digital and therapeutic offerings offer for long-term rehabilitation and school and everyday life.
In the Mio-Studie (https://kinderklinik.insel.ch/de/lehre-und-forschung/forschung/forschung-nach-fachgebiet/neuropaediatrie/research-projects/mio-studie), the effectiveness of the Mio-Training (https://www.researchprotocols.org/2026/1/e95139) after cancer is investigated. The Mio-Training was developed to specifically promote and strengthen the cognitive development of children and adolescents through an improvement of metacognition. The training combines cognitive and motor training tasks with metacognitive questions that strengthen the understanding and awareness of one's own thought processes.
Building on the Mio-Studie, a follow-up project, Mio-Blended, is to be newly established. This project aims to combine the Mio-Training with analog therapeutic offerings. The goal is to further develop, co-design, and evaluate the effectiveness of a sustainable and everyday-oriented rehabilitation concept for pediatric neuropsychology.

What to expect

• Collaboration in Mio-Studie: Recruitment of study participants, study management, as well as the planning and execution of study visits
• Further development and adaptation of the investigated Mio-Training
• Assistance in the conceptualization and construction of Mio-Blended: Development of the study concept, the creation of the study protocol, and submission to the Kantonalen Ethikkommission
• Effectiveness study: Conducting an effectiveness study on Mio-Blended. You will assist in the development of study materials, the planning of study processes and study management, as well as the coordination of the participating specialist departments
• Building up cooperations with therapists, clinical specialist departments, and other relevant partners for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the rehabilitation concept
• Writing your own scientific articles for high-ranking international specialist journals and presentation of the results at national and international congresses
• Assistance in applying for research grants

What you bring with you

• Successfully completed Master's degree in psychology or a comparable discipline
• Great interest in pediatric neuropsychology, evidence-based rehabilitation research, and working with children and adolescents
• Knowledge in neuropsychological and/or psychotherapeutic therapy would be a big plus
• Experience with quantitative research methods and statistics (e.g., R, Python)
• Independent way of working, very good social skills
• Exceptional commitment in initiating and implementing research projects
• Very good German and English skills are indispensable, French skills are an advantage

Our offer

• Opportunity for independent study management, research coordination, and implementation of research projects
• Work in a highly interdisciplinary environment of clinic and research (neuropsychology, pediatrics, neurology)
• Participation in a renowned PhD program (Graduate School of Health Science, Bern)
• Weekly continuing education opportunities in the field of pediatrics, neurology, and neuroradiology
• Payment according to the guidelines of the Schweizerischen Nationalfonds (SNF)
• Close supervision by Saskia Salzmann (neuropsychologist) and Prof. Dr. phil. Regula Everts (Leading Neuropsychologist)
• Remuneration according to the guidelines for PhDs of the Schweizerischen Nationalfonds

Are you interested? We look forward to your application!

Questions about the position?

Further information will be gladly provided by

MSc Saskia Salzmann
Neuropsychologin

+41 31 664 59 84