Swiss TPH

Swiss TPH offers PhD studies in the framework of the Faculty of Science of the University of Basel in the following subject areas:

• Microbiology
• Infection biology  Parasitology
• Cell biology / molecular biology
• Epidemiology / Public Health (Anker zum unterstehenden Kapitel)).

The general rules for doctorates of the Faculty of Science are outlined in the ‘Promotionsordnung’ and can be downloaded from the homepage of the Faculty of Science.  

Person interested to pursue a PhD at Swiss TPH need to find a supervisor and to be accepted in principle on the basis of their previous academic qualifications by the University of Basel. It is important to note that the final decision on acceptance of PhD students is made at the level of Swiss TPH. A detailed description of all steps of undertaking a PhD is found in the Swiss TPH student handbook.

Completion of a full master’s degree comprising at least 90 ETCS is a pre-requisite for PhD students at the Faculty of Science of the University of Basel. Information about the various research areas of Swiss TPH and open PhD positions can be found at the Institute’s webpage (www.swisstph.ch).
Interested students may contact a potential supervisor and need to send a comprehensive motivation letter and a CV with two references to the student coordination of Swiss TPH administration: Mrs. Christine Mensch; chrisitine.mensch@unibas.ch ; phone: +41-61-2848289

Once the research project and the mode of financing have been agreed with the supervisor and the eligibility of the student is confirmed by the University of Basel, the student needs to register formally at the University of Basel.

Deadlines for registration for doctoral studies: 30th of April for the fall semester, 30th of November for the spring semester.

PhD in Epidemiology / Public Health
At the University of Basel a PhD in Epidemiology / Public Health can be obtained in the framework of the interdisciplinary PhD in Epidemiology offered by the Faculty of Science (‘Fakultätsübergreifende Promotionsfach Epidemiologie’). The program is described in the PhD Guidelines (Wegleitung für fakutätsübergreifende Promotionsfächer).

The interdisciplinary PhD ‘Epidemiology’ is open for students from various disciplines namely biology, medical biology, microbiology, molecular biology, infection biology, parasitology, environmental sciences, medical anthropology, medical sociology, pharmacy and pharmacology, health economics and medicine .

It requires a Master Degree (or equivalent) recognized by the University of Basel comprising at least 90 ETCS. In the absence of such a master degree, a Master of Advanced studies (e.g. MPH) or any other MSc with e.g. only 60 ETCS does not qualify for doctoral studies at the University of Basel.

How to get started
Swiss TPH covers research in a wide area of Epidemiology / Public Health. Interested students may consult the Institute’s homepage for further information.

Other institutes at the University of Basel are also supervising PhD students in the Epidemiology Program are; particularly the Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics or the Academy of Swiss Insurance Medicine www.asim.unibas.ch. PhD studies at these external Institutions need to be agreed with Prof. Marcel Tanner, Chair Epidemiology & Med. Parasitology, Faculty of Science, and director of Swiss TPH who will serve as the faculty representative in the doctoral committee.

A doctoral committee of at least 3 members has to be set up including a faculty representative, a supervisor (if not identical with the faculty representative), a co -referee and optionally further members. The dissertation committee monitors the progress of the PhD studies and decides about the accompanying training in accordance with the student. At least 12 ETCS of doctoral training need to be obtained during the whole PhD studies. Additional training is required if the student does not have the necessary basic qualifications for a PhD in Epidemiology / Public Health.

Details about preparing a PhD proposal can be found in the student handbook of Swiss TPH

PhD program of the Swiss School of Public Health
PhD Students of the Epidemiology Program of the University of Basel can additionally register with the PhD program of the Swiss School of Public Health www.ispm-unibasel.ch/ssphplus. This program offers broad and stimulating networking opportunities and training courses in the field of Public Health, structures the learning process and defines minimal standards to be met by the student.

MD-PhD Program
Doctoral students with a medical background who pursue a PhD in Epidemiology/Public Health need to register with Epidemiology Program of the University of Basel (as described above) and can in addition apply for a PhD scholarship in the framework of the MD PhD Programme.