PhD student in Epidemiology

The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute is the biggest institution for public health, international health and tropical medicine in Switzerland. The institute with over 700 employees delivers a sustainable contribution with its research, education and services to the improvement of health worldwide.

About the Research Project

Your future PhD project will address effects of transportation noise on cognitive functions, behavior and health related quality of life in adolescents. You will work with data collected in the framework of the HERMES cohort between 2012 and 2016 in Central Switzerland and Basel area. The study population includes 900 students from 7th to 9th grade who took part in a baseline and a follow-up investigation one year later. Cognitive functions were measured using standardized computerized cognitive testing systems. Study participants and their parents filled in each a questionnaire on behavior, quality of life and other relevant covariabels. Exposure to road traffic, railway and aircraft noise was modeled by our project partners at Empa.

For these outcomes your research will clarify how relevant is noise exposure at home vs. school, and what is the role of sleep on noise induced health effects. Further, you will elucidate which type of noise is most problematic.

The PhD project will take place in the framework of a larger study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. We will closely collaborate within a team of 4 researchers.

Your assignments

• To link Noise modeling data to home/school of HERMES study participants
• To develop an indoor noise exposure model from a noise measurements
• To conduct epidemiological data analyses
• To present results at conferences and meetings
• To write scientific papers
• To contribute to teaching

 

Your profile

Qualifications: MSc in natural science, psychology or medicine with interest in interdisciplinary research on environmental health risks. Knowledge in biostatics and practical experience in data analysis using statistical software (e.g. R, Stata) is required. An asset is good communication skills, social competences and knowledge of German language.

We offer you

A challenging and exciting research opportunity in an interdisciplinary team on a public health relevant topic. The PhD is done within a doctoral program of the University Basel and the Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+) accompanied by a rich offer of continuous education. Salary scheme is according to Swiss National Science Foundation.

Start of employment: 1 July 2017 or by arrangement (duration of contract: max. 4 years).