Application process & FAQ
PhD position in Neuroimaging 70%
Immediately or by agreement
USZ Campus
TBI is the leading cause of disability in young and working-age populations and is the most common external risk factor for dementia. Up to 90% of patients are initially classified as having mild TBI; however, half of them experience incomplete recovery with various neuropsychiatric sequelae, despite no visible brain pathology on current state-of-the-art diagnostics.
We are conducting a prospective, longitudinal, confirmatory quantitative study in adolescents and adults aged 16 to 60 years at the University Hospital Zurich. The project includes multimodal assessments (cognition, sleep, psychiatric burden, blood markers, gut microbiome) and advanced neuroimaging to investigate changes in brain morphology, volumetry, connectivity, and metabolism over 12 months. Our goal is to develop a new diagnostic algorithm that will help identify TBI patients at risk for unfavorable neuropsychiatric outcomes at an early stage.
What we offer
- One PhD position (70%) funded for 24 months (3rd and 4th year will be funded upon successful acquisition of additional funding)
- Research on frontal lobe dysfunction and its relevance for cognitive and neuropsychiatric outcomes after mild TBI
- Excellent research environment with internationally recognized scientists and state-of-the-art technology
- Outstanding scientific supervision within the Department of Neuroradiology, including weekly meetings
- Structured training through the Zurich Neuroscience Center (ZNZ)
- Bi-monthly lab meetings with opportunities to present your project and learn from others in the Rauen research group
- Individual career mentoring & coaching, methodology courses, soft skills workshops, and conference travel support
- International scientific and clinical collaborations within neurotrauma and neuroimaging networks, with opportunities to publish in high-ranked peer-reviewed journals
Requirements
- Highly motivated students holding an MSc in Neuroscience, Neuroradiology, Psychology, or a related field, or candidates aiming for an MD/PhD
- Demonstrated academic excellence in BSc/MSc studies
- Excellent German (C2) and English (C1) language skills
Application
Please send your motivation letter, CV, and certificates by email by November 16, 2025:
AG Rauen Neuropsychiatry
PD Dr. med. Katrin Rauen, FEBN
Senior Research Associate
Institute of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital Zurich
Junior Research Group Leader, ZNZ, Zurich
Prof. Dr. phil. Lars Michels
Senior Assistant
Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich
Research Group Leader, ZNZ, Zurich
Benefits
On-site Day Care Center
On-site Day Care Center
Your child/children receive(s) loving care at our Day Care Center. Long opening hours, no vacation closure, and subsidized childcare places at five locations relieve the burden on working parents.
Health
Health
We help you to stay healthy. In addition to personal consultations and courses offered by Health Management, subsidized annual membership of ASVZ gives you access to more than 120 different sports.
Flexibility
Flexibility
We support a healthy work-life balance: almost half of our employees work part-time and 50% of work can be done from home, whenever their daily professional duties permit this.
Family friendliness
Family friendliness
Mothers are entitled to at least six months’ maternity leave (on their full salary for 16 weeks), and fathers are entitled to at least two months’ paternity leave (on their full salary for two weeks).
Further education & development
Further education & development
We accompany our employees throughout their professional career and support them in their development by offering them personalized career and further education opportunities.
Insurance
Insurance
We pay 60% of our employees’ pension fund contributions and can offer them special supplementary insurance conditions.
Mobility
Mobility
Our employees benefit from a discounted personal Zurich Transport Network (ZVV) annual travelcard or receive a fixed cash amount towards a GA Travelcard.
Telephony
Telephony
As a USZ employee, you and your family members benefit from special conditions for your private cell phone contract.
About USZ
The University Hospital of Zurich is one of the largest hospitals in Switzerland. Our more than 8,600 employees and around 700 trainees work every day for the well-being of our patients.
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