PhD in Health Science Disability and Functioning

The PhD project will focus on utilizing real-world data to investigate the social causes of disability across the life course. The doctoral researcher will analyse the social causes and consequences of disability, examining how socioeconomic factors shape the onset of chronic illness and how functional decline impacts employment, income, and social participation over time. You will develop and apply advanced statistical and machine learning models to analyze large‑scale datasets, including clinical records and patient‑reported outcomes.

The goal is to generate actionable insights to improve the understanding of the social and clinical determinants of disability and functioning progression, and to inform evidence‑based interventions for patients with chronic diseases. This position is embedded within a Swiss National Science Foundation‑funded project, and the candidate will work closely with a recently appointed Postdoctoral researcher.

• Develop a robust PhD research plan leveraging real‑world data to explore socioeconomic causes of disability and functioning trajectories in patients with chronic diseases
• Analyze large‑scale datasets, including socioeconomic data, patient‑reported outcomes, clinical data, and functioning measures
• Design and implement advanced statistical and machine learning models to generate actionable insights.
• Write scientific papers and present findings at national and international conferences
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary international team of researchers
• Regular participation in the University of Lucerne graduate program

• Master's degree in biostatistics, data science, quantitative economics, epidemiology, or related field
• A strong foundation in statistical methods and/or machine learning, with an ability to apply them to clinical and functioning data
• Proven experience working with real‑world databases and generating real‑world evidence
• Good programming skills such as in R and/or Python
• Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Excellent English skills (knowledge of German is a plus but not required)

Swiss Paraplegic Research (SPF) is part of the Swiss Paraplegic Group. The mission of SPF is sustainably improving the situation of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) through interdisciplinary, clinical and community‑based research on a national and international level. Specific areas of its comprehensive research include functioning, mobility, social integration, equality of opportunity, self‑determination, quality of life, health services provision as well as epidemiology and statistical methods.

SPF is an university research institution recognized and promoted by the Swiss federal government and the cantons and an active link to academic and industrial research and development at the national and international levels.