PhD student on emerging CT technology in proton therapy - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

PhD student on emerging CT technology in proton therapy

The Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University has a broad research profile with strong research groups focused on cancer, autoimmune and genetic diseases. A fundamental idea at the department is to stimulate translational research and thereby closer interactions between medical research and health care. Research is presently conducted in the following areas: medical and clinical genetics, clinical immunology, pathology, neuro biology, neuro-oncology, vascular biology, radiation science and molecular tools. Department activities are also integrated with the units for Oncology, Clinical Genetics, Clinical Immunology, Clinical Pathology, and Hospital Physics at Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala. The department has teaching assignments in several education programmes, including Master Programmes, at the Faculty of Medicine, and at the Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology. The department has a yearly turnover of around SEK 500 million, out of which more than half is made up of external funding. The staff amounts to approximately 345 employees, out of which 100 are PhD-students, and there are in total more than 700 affiliated people. Feel free to read more about the department's activities here: www.igp.uu.se

Project description and duties
A PhD student position at the Medical Physics group at Uppsala University, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology is available for a highly motivated individual with interest in radiation therapy in general and proton radiotherapy in particular. In our research we aim at developing and validating general quantitative imaging methods to reduce the proton range uncertainty, which can be leveraged to achieve better patient outcomes by using the present (DECT) and emerging state-of-the-art (PCCT) in CT imaging. The focus of the PhD project will be on assessing the clinical impact of improved tissue characterization and proton range definition, specifically in terms of reduction of high dose volumes in organs at risk. To achieve this objective we will first, via comprehensive retrospective studies, generate descriptive statistics of the potential impact of reducing proton range uncertainty based on treatments performed at the Skandion Clinic. This will be followed by dose recalculation with introduction of artificial range errors as well as prospective studies investigating the potential of emerging imaging methods to decrease uncertainties impacting upon the treatment planning process. In this project the successful applicant will be collaborating with four other PhD students at Umeå University and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, as well as experts in radiation oncology, medical physics, radiology, computed tomography technology and deep learning.

Requirements

To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must:

•  hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in a relevant area (e.g. mathematics and physics, medical physics or other branches of applied physics), or 
•  have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or 
•  have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way. 

(Description of qualification requirements, what does the job require in terms of education, work experience, knowledge, personal characteristics, experience/knowledge in IT- systems, language requirements, etc. For personal characteristics, see more information in “Kompetensbiblioteket”.)

Additional qualifications
Experience from computer programming and treatment planning are considered as additional qualifications, as is the certification as medical physicist. Very good skills in oral and written English are required.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Alexandru Dasu, alexandru.dasu@skandion.se, +46-70-2024764

Please submit your application by 15 January 2024, UFV-PA 2023/3653

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