PhD position in Medical Sciences with a research profile in Radiation Physics - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

The Department of Radiation Sciences is, in terms of research, a dynamic and internationally successful environment in radiology, oncology, cognitive neuroscience, radiation physics and bio-medical engineering. The department belongs to the Faculty of Medicine at Umeå University.

We are now looking for a PhD student for a project involving machine learning, quantitative imaging with photon counting computed tomography (PCCT), and proton therapy treatment planning. The position is a four-year full-time employment, or a five-year employment with 20% teaching and other activities at the faculty. The application must be completed using our e-recruitment system Varbi no later than 30th October 2022.

General information about the Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, can be found here: https://www.aurora.umu.se/organisation-och-styrning/organisation/fakultetssidor/medicinsk-fakultet/forskarutbildning/.

The Department of Radiation Sciences strives for an equal gender representation and, therefore, we encourage female applicants.

Project Description
The main goal of this PhD project is to decrease the physical uncertainties in radiation therapy with protons, which lead to unnecessary irradiation of healthy tissue and thus potential negative side-effects for patients after cancer treatment. To achieve this goal, we will explore the possibilities to estimate human tissue characteristics with high accuracy using PCCT image data and machine learning. Through better knowledge of tissue characteristics, more accurate determination and modelling of proton range can be achieved in proton therapy treatment planning. Furthermore, this project will also cover a comparison between physical models, previously developed by the research group, and machine learning for evaluation of the impact of more accurate quantitative methods in radiation oncology.

This multifaceted project will be conducted in a research environment that focuses on collaboration between medical physicists, radiologists, oncologists, and data scientists in machine learning from Umeå University, The KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, The Skandion Clinic in Uppsala, RaySearch, and GE Healthcare.

Admission Requirements

General admission requirements
To be admitted for doctoral studies the applicant is required to hold a university degree of at least 240 credits (ECTS), of which at least 60 credits at advanced level, or equivalent levels of education otherwise acquired in Sweden or abroad.

Specific admission requirements
To meet the requirement of specific competence to be admitted for doctoral studies in medical sciences with an orientation towards radiation physics the applicant should, through university studies or other equivalent education, have gained basic theoretical knowledge in subjects that are considered to be directly relevant to the current focus. The department's doctoral education group evaluates whether the candidate holds appropriate knowledge to be eligible for admission to doctoral studies.

Good knowledge in English, both written and spoken, is required. The candidate is assessed for these skills during a presentation of the research plan in English for the department's doctoral education group.

Since the project connects to several research areas and medical specialities, universities, and the industry, we are looking for an applicant who is a good colleague, values teamwork, and collaboration in a multi-disciplinary environment. Further qualifications of merit for this position are prior experience with machine learning, handling and analysis of data in DICOM-format, and general programming skills.

Terms of employment
The position is intended to result in a doctoral degree and the main task of the PhD student is to pursue doctoral studies, which include participation in research and postgraduate courses as well as journal clubs and seminars.

Application
The application should contain:

• A cover letter with a brief description of your research interests and a motivation for why you apply
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• Copies of diplomas, grades, and certificates
• Copies of master thesis work
• If applicable, a publication list
• Contact information for two reference persons

The application must be written in Swedish or English.

Salary
PhD position salaries are set in accordance with a local PhD student salary agreement.

Other information
For any additional information about the position or the project, please contact Tufve Nyholm (tufve.nyholm@umu.se), professor, or Jonas Andersson (jonas.s.andersson@umu.se), associate professor, Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University. 

We look forward to receiving your application!