Postdoctoral Researcher at 50-100% in Medical Ethics

Contexte

The University Hospital of Vaud (CHUV) is one of the five university hospitals in Switzerland. Thanks to its collaboration with the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University of Lausanne and the EPFL, the CHUV plays a leading role in the fields of medical care, medical research and education.

The Institute of Humanities in Medicine (IHM), attached to the Department of Education and Research of the CHUV and to the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University of Lausanne, brings together 4 academic areas: history of medicine and public health; social sciences of medicine; philosophy, ethics and law of medicine and health; and applied human and social sciences (hospital communication, spirituality in medicine).

Mission

This position belongs to a 4-year interdisciplinary research project, funded by the Swiss National Fund (SNF) The 'Hospital Discharge Letter' through the Lens of Cultural Studies: on the Narrativity, History and Ethics of an Unknown Genre of Medical Communication (Project Nr. 10.003.969, 8/2025-72029), Principal Investigators: Prof. Dr. Martina King (Fribourg), Prof. Dr. Ralf Jox (Lausanne), Dr. Felix Rietmann (Lausanne). The ‘discharge letter’ or ‘medical report’ is a standardized expert genre that physicians produce and study every day countless times; it organizes written medical communication worldwide. However, our project is the first one to investigate this genre systematically from the joint perspectives of literary studies, medical history and medical ethics; the project establishes a new research field in the Medical Humanities.

Main tasks of the position:

• To analyze historical and contemporary hospital discharge letters from German-speaking hospitals with regard to their ethical dimension
• To plan, conduct, and analyze a qualitative interview study with clinicians concerning the ethical dimension of hospital discharge letters, with a particular emphasis on the use of generative artificial intelligence / Large Language Models
• To present and publish research results internationally
• To take over some coordination activities within the research consortium
• To participate in and contribute to the academic activities of the IHM, in particular in the field of medical ethics.

Profil

• University education and Master-level degree in a pertinent discipline (e.g., medicine, nursing, health sciences, philosophy, social sciences)
• Doctorate in medical ethics/bioethics, applied ethics, philosophy of medicine or another relevant academic discipline (e.g., medicine, social sciences, psychology, law)
• Professional training and/or work experience in the health care field is a plus
• Some experience in managing scientific research projects would be an asset
• Performance demonstrated, for example, by grades, scholarships, awards, publications, or evaluations
• Intrinsic motivation and academic career plan with the intention of obtaining an academic qualification
• Communication and relationship skills, ability and willingness to promote interdisciplinary collaboration; openness and flexibility
• Excellent command of German (C1), ideally also French (B2) and English (B2).

Nous offrons

• First-rate social benefits, 20 days of paternity leave and 4 months of maternity leave (with the possibility of an additional month of breastfeeding leave)
• A regular salary progression adapted to the responsibilities
• A 13th salary and 25 days of vacation per year
• A right to a minimum of three days of training per year, with access to a varied offer within the CHUV Training Center and partner training centers of the State of Vaud
• Easy access to one of the 500 furnished accommodations offered in the surrounding neighborhoods for people moving to Switzerland from abroad
• Social, cultural and economic advantages offered to members of the H-Oxygène association
• advantages offered within the framework of the mobility plan (discounts on public transport passes, promotion of "Mobility" vehicles and discounts on the purchase of electric bicycles)

Contact et envoi de candidature

Further information can be obtained from Prof. Ralf J. Jox (ralf.jox@chuv.ch), Professor of Medical Ethics and Director of the Institute of Humanities in Medicine CHUV-UNIL (please don't send your application on this email address)

Applications, written in English, French or German, should include a specific letter of motivation, a concise curriculum vitae, a list of publications with an example of a significant article, and copies of diplomas. They should be sent until June 30, 2025 (23:59 GMT+1) on the dedicated electronic platform.

As all our applications are processed electronically, we thank you for applying exclusively via the internet, by clicking on the APPLY button at the bottom of the advertisement. If for technical reasons you are unable to apply online, we invite you to contact our Recruitment Unit, which will assist you in your application process at 021 / 314-85-70 from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm.

As part of the recruitment process for this position, in the event of hiring, it will be necessary to provide us with an original extract from the criminal record. You will also be asked to present your original diplomas and identification.

The CHUV applies the highest quality standards in its recruitment processes. In addition, in order to promote the diversity of our employees, we are attentive to different life paths and do our utmost to guarantee equal treatment and avoid any discrimination. We look forward to receiving your application