The Institute of Biology of the University of Geneva offers a PhD position in Social Studies of Science and Medicine. The starting date of employment is November 1, 2018, the contract duration is 48 months, the engagement rate is 100%.
This PhD position is available within the framework of the project “Development of Personalized Health in Switzerland” (DoPHiS), funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The interdisciplinary project DoPHiS brings together sociologists, anthropologists, bioethicists, biolaw scholars, healthcare policy scholars and actuarial scientists. The PhD student will join this dynamic and heterogeneous group of researchers based at different Swiss universities (University of Lausanne; University of Geneva; University of Neuchatel), and participate with his/her own research to the achievement of the overall project goal to describe the different processes of alignment (epistemic, moral, institutional, policy-related, etc.) that are required for a functioning societal circulation of Personalized Health (PH) in Switzerland. The PhD student will work closely with other project members, be expected to develop his/her own ideas and communicate results (orally and in writing) internally to the project, nationally and internationally.
The major research focus of the PhD project will be to describe and analyse the emergence various personalized medicine practices, including direct-to-consumer genomics/microbiomics and smart health devices, in Switzerland. The applicant will explore how these techniques of personalized medicine lead users to self-optimize, self-track, and self-report and what meanings the users attach to these practices.
The doctoral position is a 48-months full-time position, starting November 1, 2018. The PhD student will be in residence at the University of Geneva and work under the supervision of Dr. Dana Mahr and in close collaboration with the other members of the research group. Salary conditions of full-time PhD employment established by SNSF standards apply.
Applicant’s profile: The applicant has successfully completed a Master’s degree in science studies and/or history, sociology, or anthropology of health and/or medicine (or related disciplines and domains). He/she has research experience in qualitative work related to science, technology, or medicine – as well as excellent knowledge in English (preferably also French and/or German). The doctoral student is expected to interact closely with the project’s members, in am interdisciplinary and diversity welcoming environment, and to publish his/her research in international peer-reviewed journals as well as via oral presentations. We encourage the application of women and underrepresented groups in academia.
The application deadline is August 15, 2018.
For further information, check the full job posting.