Vacancies

Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine
The University of Lucerne is a modern, personal and dynamic human sciences university at the heart of Switzerland and Europe. In keeping with our guiding principle 'Moving Human Sciences', we focus on people and their institutions with our six faculties and two academies. Our aim is to develop the University of Lucerne into a pioneering, internationally visible centre for research and teaching in the human sciences.

The Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine promotes research and teaching in the fields of health, medicine, functional capacity and rehabilitation. Our mission is to improve health and well-being for all by creating a diverse, inclusive environment for innovative research, education and services.
As of the 1 September 2026 or by agreement, we are hiring a

Doctoral candidate (PhD student) (100%)

The position is embedded in the nationally funded research project supported by the Research Committee of the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation:

" Mapping and Prioritizing Assistive Technologies for Daily Living for People with Spinal cord injury in Switzerland: lived needs, lifecycle use, and investment guidance"

Over the course of three years, this project aims to address a critical gap in Swiss rehabilitation research by generating a nationally life-course framework describing how people with spinal cord injury use, adapt, and maintain assistive technologies in everyday life. The project focuses on user experience, financing structures, system-level barriers, and equity in access to assistive technologies. Recommendations derived from this project could potentially inform the National Spinal Cord Injury Strategy 2025–2033.
The doctoral position is based at the University of Lucerne with co-supervision of professors working at the ETH Zurich, the Swiss Paraplegic Center and the Swiss Paraplegic Research. It offers close integration into an interdisciplinary environment spanning rehabilitation science, health policy, mixed methods research, and health economics.

Tasks

  • Active participation in a national, multi-phase research project using mixed methods
  • Conduct and analyze qualitative interviews with people living with SCI across life-course stages and Swiss insurance regimes
  • Prepare and co-facilitate three participatory co-design workshops
  • Contribute to the cost–consequence economic analysis, including data collection on device costs, reimbursement structures, and financing patterns
  • Prepare scientific publications for international peer-reviewed journals
  • Presentation of research results at academic and practice-oriented conferences
  • Support the development of dissemination materials including policy briefs, clinical guidance documents, and plain-language summaries for people with SCI

Requirements

  • Master's degree in occupational therapy, public health, health sciences, rehabilitation science, health services research, health technology, or a related field
  • Strong skills and interest in quantitative and qualitative research methods
  • Interest in assistive technology, rehabilitation, disability, or person-centered care
  • Very good German language skills (spoken and written), essential
  • Very good English skills
  • Additional knowledge of French and/or Italian is an advantage
  • Ability to work independently, in a structured and reliable manner
  • Strong organizational and communication skills
  • Capacity for teamwork and cross-disciplinary collaboration within an established, senior research team
  • Knowledge of the Swiss healthcare and disability insurance system and familiarity with spinal cord injury, assistive technology provision, or rehabilitation systems research (desired)

We offer

  • A three-year employment contract, fully funded for the entire duration of the project, with the aim of obtaining a doctoral degree
  • Salary in line with Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) guidelines for doctoral researchers
  • Supervision by an internationally recognized, interdisciplinary team with complementary expertise in qualitative methods, health economics, rehabilitation engineering, clinical SCI medicine, and functioning epidemiology.
  • Formal enrolment in a structured PhD program with mentoring, regular supervision meetings, and access to the SSPH+ inter-university graduate campus
  • Excellent working conditions within a growing and research-oriented faculty
  • An attractive workplace in the center of Switzerland
The terms of employment are based on the personnel regulations of the Canton of Lucerne.
For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Sara Rubinelli of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, sara.rubinelli@unilu.ch
Please submit your complete application documents (cover letter, resume, diplomas, and certificates) by June 30 via application button below:
Apply now