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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 March 1, 2026 or by agreement, we are looking for a

Applied Clinical Scientist-Position (Activity Rate 80-100%)

Project outline

This role is embedded in a translational research programme investigating how advanced cochlear implant (CI) fitting and mapping strategies influence speech outcomes, cortical auditory processing (CAEP/eCAEP), auditory plasticity, and listening effort over time. The goal is to develop and validate clinically usable, evidence-based mapping workflows that improve real-world communication outcomes for CI recipients.
The position is part of a collaborative project between the University of Lucerne and the University of Berne. The project is led by Prof. Gunesh Rajan (University of Lucerne / Luzerner Kantonsspital, Lucerne) and offers a rare opportunity to work at the interface of clinical CI care, speech-language pathology, and applied research, translating innovative mapping approaches into measurable patient benefit.

Responsibilities:

  • Plan and conduct a prospective longitudinal study in cochlear implant recipients (recruitment coordination, follow-ups, documentation) in collaboration with the ENT Department of the Inselspital and University of Berne
  • Perform and/or coordinate audiological and behavioural testing (e.g., speech-in-noise, questionnaires, sound localisation) with the Audiology Unit of the ENT Department Inselspital Berne
  • Acquire and analyse cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEP/eCAEP), including quality control and signal processing.
  • Implement and run pupillometry-based listening-effort experiments (EyeLink; stimulus control via MATLAB/Psychtoolbox), including preprocessing.
  • Conduct statistical analyses of longitudinal data (e.g., mixed-effects models; repeated-measures approaches).
  • Disseminate results through peer-reviewed publications, conferences and project reporting;
  • Work closely with clinicians, audiologists, engineers and researchers to ensure clinically meaningful implementation.

Your profile:

  • Master's degree or PhD (or near completion) in neuroscience, audiology/hearing sciences, psychology or a related field.
  • Formal qualification in Speech-Language Pathology / Speech Pathology (or equivalent recognised credential), with strong clinical competency in speech and auditory rehabilitation.
  • Proven hands-on CI mapping/fitting expertise (not exposure/interest) - you have mapped CI recipients in routine clinical practice and can work confidently with CI fitting software and structured mapping protocols.
  • Expertise in EEG/evoked potentials and/or eye-tracking/pupillometry and artefact handling in auditory implants.
  • Solid understanding of auditory rehabilitation pathways and outcome measurement in CI patients.
  • Experience working in a clinical environment with excellent organisational skills, reliability, and patient-centred communication.
  • Strong written and spoken German sufficient for patient-facing study coordination in Switzerland (or willingness to rapidly achieve working proficiency).
  • Strong written and spoken English for excellent communication amongst the international research group and all scientific activities
  • Ability to work independently, drive study deliverables, and collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team across two sites. Additional language skills are welcome

Highly desirable (but not required)
  • Programming / data skills (e.g., MATLAB, R, Python) and familiarity with structured research datasets.
  • Experience in clinical research (GCP, ethics, consent processes) and/or multi-centre studies.

What we offer:

  • A high-impact translational research role at the interface of CI mapping innovation and measurable patient outcomes, embedded in a strong clinical research ecosystem.
  • Close collaboration with leading clinical and academic partners at University of Lucerne and Inselspital Bern, with access to established CI cohorts and modern research infrastructure.
  • A publication-oriented environment with active support for conference participation and scientific output.
  • Flexible working arrangements for non-clinical tasks; work across Lucerne and Bern as required by the study schedule.
  • Salary according to the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), employment conditions according to university/cantonal regulations.
Applicants with strong clinical CI mapping and rehabilitation portfolios are explicitly encouraged to apply.

The position is funded for 3 years.

The University of Lucerne is an equal opportunities employer. The Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine embraces inclusion and diversity and implements measures to remove barriers in recruitment and career progression.

For further information, please contact Prof.Gunesh Rajan, MD,DM,FRACS, Email: gunesh.rajan@luks.ch; Phone: +41 41 205 49 55
Please submit your application by February 1, 2026 at the latest by clicking at the apply buttton below.
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