Postdoc in Ethnographic Field Work in Healthcare
Applications are invited for a fully funded Postdoc to conduct an in-depth and focused ethnography in the Department of Emergency at the University of Bern.
Who we are
The position will be at the newly founded CoMind lab, part of the Diagnostic Quality Lab at the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Bern, Switzerland, and funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) with a Starting Grant to Dr. Juliane Kämmer. Our research group seeks to provide a clearer understanding of how decision-making in medical diagnostics and other high-risk areas can be improved to help enhance diagnoses in the long term. For this, we engage in a continuous dialogue with practitioners to get input for our (basic) research and develop output (such as trainings) that is valuable for practice. We rely on a wide array of methods, ranging from behavioral experiments to simulations, meta-analyses, and ethnography. The advertised postdoc position will draw on ethnographic methods. We leverage theoretical approaches from a variety of disciplines and collaborate with an international interdisciplinary network.
The project
Incorrect medical diagnoses are unfortunately common and some of them can have serious consequences for patients. However, there is a limited understanding of the circumstances under which such errors occur and of how effective collaboration within the diagnostic team can help prevent them. You will lead a focused ethnography in the Department of Emergency Medicine to obtain a holistic picture of the diagnostic process, including the roles of the different diagnostic team members including patients, and barriers and facilitators of effective team communication. Through collecting rich data from multiple sources and gaining real-world insights from the lived realities of healthcare professionals, you will be able to derive strong theoretical insights with high practical relevance.
Your main tasks
You will lead a study team of Master students and study nurses to conduct the focused ethnography including field observations, interviews, and the study of documents. You will plan and conduct the study, and analyze the data with the study team. Data collection is intended to last approx. 5 months. You will work in close collaboration with Dr. Juliane Kämmer (psychologist) and Prof. Dr. Wolf Hautz (emergency physician). You will also have the opportunity to develop your own research focus and (co-)supervise PhD and Master students in their work. In addition, you will take on the implementation and execution of administrative tasks. Teaching is optional.
Your profile
Completed PhD in project-related fields such as psychology, social anthropology, social sciences, communication science or the like. Applications from doctoral candidates who will complete their doctorate in a few months are welcome, too.
Further requirements
- Experience in scientific work and conducting (focused) ethnographic studies, ideally in the healthcare domain
- Interest in the topic of team decision processes in medical diagnosis
- Very good organizational skills, eye for detail and high degree of reliability
- Confidence in working independently in this area
- Motivation in supervising PhD and Master students
- Willingness and ability to work in a diverse and interdisciplinary environment
- Good communication skills in spoken and written English and German, solid understanding of Swiss German
What you can expect
- Work at the interface of basic research in behavioral science / psychology and its
practical application in the medical domain
- Access to a large international network of researchers and healthcare professionals
- Possibility to participate in transferable and research skills courses, and national and international conferences
- Flat hierarchies, communication at eye level, supportive supervision, open-minded atmosphere
- Flexible working hours with home office options
- Competitive salary (starting at CHF 88‘365 p.a.)
We look forward to receiving your informative application consisting of a 1-page letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, certificates and other supporting documents, two of your papers, and two references whom we could contact for further inquiries. Please send them in a merged pdf document to juliane.kaemmer@unibe.ch. Consideration of applications will commence on 15 May 2024 until the position is filled. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Juliane Kämmer, Universität Bern, juliane.kaemmer@unibe.ch.
For more information, please visit: https://notfallmedizin.insel.ch/fileadmin/Notfallzentrum/PDF_Dokumente/C...
Website: https://notfallmedizin.insel.ch/de/lehre-und-forschung/forschungsschwerp...
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Juliane Kämmer, Universität Bern, juliane.kaemmer@unibe.ch.