PhD student in Bariatric surgery and Obesity Research

Department of Surgery and Transplantation
PhD student in Bariatric surgery and Obesity Research
60 %
This project will directly assess changes in ingestive behavior following the two most common types of bariatric surgery (BS) worldwide in relation to sex differences and gut hormone levels. In addition, the relevance of such changes for postoperative clinical outcome, such as weight loss, will be investigated. The microstructure of eating and drinking is a readout of central nervous system mechanisms controlling caloric intake, in much the same way as the action of the laryngeal and oropharyngeal musculature, and the vocalized words they produce, are a readout of the cognitive processes of the brain. Accordingly, the obtained results have the potential to provide relevant and novel insights on how ingestive behavior is controlled by the brain and indispensably inform the search for the relevant neural circuits that are specifically altered by BS. Such insights may generate changes in the current clinical practice of internist and nutritional counseling and of other conservative treatments such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and will contribute to the international effort to develop less invasive therapies for obesity to achieve clinical benefits comparable to those after BS.
Your responsibilities
Our research projects are characterized by conceptual and methodological innovation. The candidate will collaborate with transdisciplinary partners from the University of Zurich and international experts in the fields of surgery, neurosciences, endocrinology, gastroenterology, pathology, as well as pharmacology and molecular biology (i.e., State University of Florida, USA; University College Dublin, Ireland; University of Copenhagen, Denmark; University of Wageningen, The Netherlands).
This current PhD position is associated with a Research Plan divided in three studies. We expect that approximately 3 years will be necessary for the PhD student to finalize the data collection of the proposed studies. The final year will be required for data analysis and preparation of the manuscripts.
Your profile
The candidate should hold a university master's degree in human medicine with excellent qualifications. Ideally, the candidate should also have completed the first years of the medical specialization in either General Surgery or Internal Medicine. A proficient level of scientific communication in written and spoken German and English is required. Designated research and publication experience are desired. Independency in research work and critical reasoning are expected.
This PhD position requires admission into the Doctoral Program Clinical Science offered by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Zurich. For more information on the application process to the Doctoral Program (Track 2), visit the program's website .
What we offer
The Bariatric Research Group offers a professional, friendly, highly transdisciplinary, and enthusiastic working environment. Our unit is globally connected and is focused on innovative and dynamic approaches to investigate the behavioral mechanisms underlying changes in ingestive behavior and food selection after BS in humans affected by obesity.
Place of work
Rämistrasse 100, Zürich, Switzerland
Start of employment
This position starts in September 2023. If you want to apply to this position, send an email with a motivation letter and a curriculum vitae to Prof. Marco Bueter and Michele Serra. In case of any question, do not hesitate to contact us before submitting your application.
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