PhD Position in Nursing Science and Palliative Care: Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED) at the End-of-Life

The ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Department of Health, is offering a fully funded PhD position within a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) project. The research focuses on the phenomenon of Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED) in Swiss nursing homes and inpatient palliative care institutions. The project aims to develop patient-centered ethical best practice recommendations through an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study, including a national survey, qualitative interviews, and data integration phases.

As a doctoral candidate, you will work closely with experts from research and practice, contributing to the planning and execution of sub-studies such as a scoping review, survey development and implementation, qualitative interviews, and consensus-building using the Delphi technique. You will analyze research data, synthesize results, and collaborate with the project team and external partners. Dissemination of findings in scientific journals and conferences is expected. The position is embedded in the joint doctoral program "Care and Rehabilitation Sciences" of ZHAW and the University of Zurich (UZH).

Eligibility: Applicants must hold a Master's degree in nursing science, another health profession, or social/humanities sciences. Required are strong research interest, experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research methods, excellent academic writing and conceptual skills, and very good German and English language proficiency. Experience in person-centered long-term care is an advantage.

Funding: The position is fully funded for four years according to SNF and ZHAW standards. Employment is full-time (100%).

Application: Apply online via the ZHAW job portal. For further information, contact Prof. Dr. André Fringer (project lead) or the recruiting manager. The application deadline is December 10, 2025.

About ZHAW: ZHAW is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in Switzerland, with a strong commitment to diversity, innovation, and personal development. The Department of Health is a leading center for education and research in health professions in the German-speaking region.

Keywords: Nursing Science, Palliative Care, VSED, Mixed Methods, Ethics, Long-term Care, Patient-centered Care, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, Switzerland.