Research assistant or PhD student – HIV prevention research

We are seeking a dedicated community engagement manager and research assistant to work on a project on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, access and use in Switzerland. This is a part-time position (60-80%, preferred at 80%), limited to 4 years starting November 2025, with the possibility to conduct a PhD.

The project aims at providing gender-sensitive, interdisciplinary, evidence-based guidance on how to improve PrEP awareness, access, and use among underserved and diverse populations in Switzerland. This is a collaboration between several universities in Switzerland and abroad, organisations and institutions active in HIV care and prevention, and communities concerned by PrEP and/or HIV.
The position has two principal axes. First, to establish and facilitate a community advisory board (CAB) of individuals concerned by PrEP and/or HIV, clearly designed to ensure meaningful community involvement throughout the project. Second, to undertake practice-based research into various aspects of the participatory processes put in place, and their impact on the overall project.

The exact contours of the research to be carried out will be decided by the successful applicant with the rest of the research team in collaboration with our partner universities.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and facilitate a diverse CAB of people concerned by PrEP and/or HIV in Switzerland.
• Conduct research on participatory processes and support Monitoring and Evaluation to assess the impact of the CAB and its activities.
• Liaise between the CAB and project partners, including researchers and partner organisations.
• Lead outreach, dissemination, and communication efforts, ensuring community engagement is prioritised throughout the project.
• Implement DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) strategies within the project framework, ensuring inclusive practices across all stages.

Required Profile

• Experience:
o Master's degree in public health, social epidemiology, sociology, anthropology, or other topic-related fields.
o Knowledge and experience of participatory processes/patient & public involvement.
o Prior experience working in social sciences, public health research, qualitative epidemiology, or related fields.
o Prior experience in conducting qualitative research (e.g., interviews) is an asset.
• Skills:
o Excellent organisational abilities.
o Exceptional communication and negotiation skills.
o Fluency in English, and at least French or German, with good understanding of the other language.
o Close connection to the PrEP user/HIV community in Switzerland is considered an asset.

What we offer

• A dynamic, supportive, and collaborative research environment.
• The potential to make a meaningful impact on the future of HIV prevention and community engagement in Switzerland.
• Flexible working hours (60-80% position), with the possibility to work part-time from home.
• Salary according to the Inselspital Bern / SNF PhD salary scales as applicable.

We particularly encourage applications from individuals who are familiar with the communities this project aims to serve, namely those with experience of PrEP use or living with HIV in Switzerland.

Applications must be written in English and include following elements: letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, and one reference letter.