Vacancy PhD candidate 'Development of personalized quantitative image processing for contrast enhanced mammography and breast tomosynthesis'

Job description

The AXTI lab is engaged in the development of cutting-edge digital breast tomosynthesis systems for anatomic and functional imaging of the breast. This project involves the development, optimization, characterization, and patient testing of a device with integrated 3D surface scanning. Are you the enthusiastic PhD who will help us with this project? We would like to get to know you!

To create high quality images for the radiologist to evaluate, the raw image data acquired by x-ray imaging systems needs extensive processing. In current practice, this processing makes use of generalized models that are shown to work well in most situations but are therefore likely not optimal for specific patients. With recent advances in sensor hardware, it is now possible to acquire 3D spatial information concurrently with x-ray acquisitions that can then be merged to perform more personalized image processing.

In this project you will characterize the performance of the 3D scanning setup, develop a processing pipeline for the measured data, and adapt existing processing algorithms to use this new source of information. In addition to digital and physical test objects, this work also involves extensive patient evaluation. There will be close collaboration with other team members focusing on system modelling, and phantom design, and industry partners to facilitate the translation of these methods into clinical evaluation and use. Tasks will also include presenting at international scientific conferences and writing papers on the newly developed methods and study results.

Place of work

The Department of Medical Imaging is one of the most active research departments of the Radboudumc. More than 100 researchers are continuously striving to optimize healthcare. Close cooperation between preclinical researchers, radiologists and cardiologists gives a fantastic opportunity to implement new imaging techniques in clinical practice, and you will be working directly in this field. 

Advanced X-ray Tomographic Imaging laboratory
The AXTI laboratory works on the development, optimization, and clinical evaluation of new x-ray-based imaging methods. The lab focuses on the use of medical physics approaches to improve image acquisition, reconstruction and processing methods, including artificial intelligence algorithms, and to evaluate the clinical performance of new technology in new clinical applications. The group can count on members with wide-ranging expertise in image processing, reconstruction, deep learning and other AI methods, and analysis, as well as radiation dosimetry, along with the design and performance of patient trials. 

The laboratory works closely with radiologists and industry to develop new, clinically relevant, imaging methods and processes in x-ray-based imaging, especially in breast imaging and body CT, to have an impact in detection, diagnosis, and treatment of pathologies. 

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where scientific breakthroughs are born through the curiosity and passion of our collaborating researchers in a vibrant environment. We believe trust and excitement are crucial elements to achieving our goals, and we approach our research as teams and with the utmost rigor to make a significant impact on health and healthcare. Our researchers are driven by their fascination with the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms underlying health and healthcare. They collaborate with partners from all over the world to improve health outcomes for all. Radboudumc unites patient care, research, education, and corporate learning, which allows us to approach our mission to shape the health and healthcare of the future in an innovative and person-centered way.

Our ambition is to lead the way in the pursuit of prevention, sustainability, meaningful care. We believe that through our research, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of society. Join us on our mission to make a difference in healthcare. Become a part of our community of gifted researchers, professionals or patient partners who are dedicated to making a real impact on population health and healthcare. 

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.

Profile

You are a creative and enthusiastic researcher with a MSc degree in physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, medical physics, or similar. You have experience or interest in 3D volumetric image processing, medical imaging, and affinity with biomedical research. In addition you have experience in programming in python, C/C++, Matlab, or similar. You posses excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

Employment conditions

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• Upon commencement of employment, you will start at scale 10A, step 0 (€ 3.017 based on a full-time appointment). Over a maximum period of 4 years, you will progress to scale 10A, step 3 (€3.824 based on a full-time appointment). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a 47% to 72% bonus for working unsocial hours.
• 172 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week. (As of 1 January 2025, you will receive 176 vacation hours.) 
• An Employment Conditions Selection Model, allowing you to use part of your employment conditions to your choosing. For example, you can use your gross salary to purchase additional vacation hours or hours for providing informal caregiving. Or, for example, you can use your gross end-of-year bonus to purchase a bicycle, so you pay less tax.
• Plenty of opportunities for personal development. You can take a variety of courses in our online learning environment. 
• Your well-being and vitality are a priority. For example:
  • Save time for work-life balance leave. 
  • A 40% discount on a sports membership of the Radboud Sports Center.
  • Healthy Professionals program to help you manage your energy. 
  • Company Support Team and a personal coach if you are going through a life-changing event.
  • Financially beneficial working less through a Generation Scheme as you approach state pension age.
• Support in achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. Examples:
  • Advice and courses on, for example, 'Millennial dilemmas' and 'Your Career After 57'.
  • Activities at our own mindfulness center.
  • Informal caregiving consultations if you have questions about juggling work and caregiving responsibilities at home.
• In addition to statutory pregnancy and maternity leave, Radboud university medical center offers 26 weeks of parental leave, nine of which are paid. In addition, as a partner you can take a maximum of five weeks of supplementary partner leave. During supplementary partner leave and parental leave, we supplement the UWV benefit up to 100% of your salary.
• Pension accrual at the ABP Pension Fund. Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. 
• Discounts on supplementary packages of two group health insurances and ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• As of 1 October 2024: an allowance for your commuting costs of € 0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km one way. If you use public transport to commute, we will fully reimburse the public transport costs (2nd class). If you regularly work from home, you will receive a working from home allowance of € 2.35 per day.

Application procedure

Are you ready to think further for our patients and our care? We would like to receive your application before 4 September 2024. We will then contact you shortly. The job interviews take place on 18, 19 or 20 September 2024. We would appreciate it if you would take this into account.

Good to know

• This position requires a Certificate of Conduct (VOG).
• You can find more information about our application procedure and frequently asked questions on our website.
• Will you be our new colleague? Then you will be given the time and space to get to know your role, your workplace, and your colleagues. An induction day for all new colleagues is an integral part of your onboarding program. 

We are recruiting for this position ourselves. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated, but do feel free to share the vacancy in your network!

Contact

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then send an email to Prof. Ioannis Sechopoulos. Use the Apply button to submit your application. 

The following should be included in your application:

• CV.
• A letter of motivation.
• Letters of recommendation.
• List of completed courses and grades.
• Reprints or, preferably, links to your thesis or any scientific publications or reports in English that you have written.