Postdoctoral position in Computerized Image Processing with focus on Applications in Biomedicine

Are you interested in developing modern AI-driven image analysis methods that can improve healthcare, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a postdoctoral research position at Uppsala University. 

Uppsala University has a long tradition of groundbreaking research – among our alumni are 16 Nobel Prize laureates, including, most recently, Svante Pääbo. The University is unique in combining IT and Artificial Intelligence with other research, from life sciences to humanities. Such interdisciplinary collaboration is facilitated by the Centre for Image Analysis, AI4Research, the Centre for Interdisciplinary Mathematics, and several others.

The Department of Information Technology holds a leading position in both research and education at all levels. We are currently Uppsala University's third largest department, having around 350 employees, including 120 teachers and 120 PhD students. Approximately 5,000 undergraduate students take one or more courses at the department each year. You can find more information about us on the department of Information Technology website.

Research at the Department is conducted within several research groups. The MIDA – Methods for Image Data Analysis – group focuses on development of novel methods for image data analysis, aiming to devise generally applicable approaches and tools that work well, independent of the particular application and types of images used. Striving for practically useful methods with a real and prominent impact, the research is often driven by emerging needs from the fields of biomedicine and medicine. The research is multidisciplinary and often connects with several other research groups and disciplines. MIDA is closely linked to the Centre for Image Analysis, and actively participates in European and global networks of image analysts in life sciences.

Research project: Interpretable AI-based microscopy image analysis to advance cancer diagnostics and treatment
This project will be conducted in interdisciplinary collaboration between MIDA group and researchers at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology (IGP) at Uppsala University. The aim is to develop advanced interpretable AI-driven image analysis techniques for state-of-the-art microscopy, enabling reliable and explainable detection of cancer, prediction of disease progression, as well as response to certain therapies. Ultimately, the aim is to improve our understanding of cancer, its early detection and efficient treatment.  

The details of the research project will be decided in a dialogue between the postdoctoral fellow and the supervisor.

The position is funded through research projects conducted by the MIDA group and financed by Cancerfonden (Swedish Cancer Society)  and Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet).

Duties
The successful candidate will join the MIDA group and take initiative and responsibility for development and evaluation of advanced AI-based image analysis methods for histo-, and cytopathology. 

The duties include method development, implementation, data management, evaluation and analysis, manuscript preparation, as well as own career development. Assisting PhD students in the research group on the related research tasks will be a part of the duties. The position may also entail some research-administrative tasks. Teaching in related subjects (max 20%), including master student supervision, can also be included depending on availability and interest.

The candidate is expected to take an active role in the MIDA research environment and contribute to the development of the research milieu.

Requirements
PhD degree in a field closely related to the position (e.g., computerized image analysis/processing, data science, computer science) or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in a field closely related to the position. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc. 

The candidate must have documented experience in image analysis, machine and deep learning, including completed courses in these fields, at the master and doctoral level of education, as well as first hand experience in method development, implementation, evaluation, and publication (first author) of scientific articles in internationally recognized journals and presentations at international conferences. Programming in Python, and experience of working with deep learning in the PyTorch environment are a  requirement.

We are looking for a candidate who is motivated, creative, dedicated, responsible, and has a structured approach to problem-solving. When selecting among the applicants we will assess their ability to independently drive their work forward, to collaborate with others, to have a diligent and professional approach and to analyze and address complex problems. An emphasis will be placed on personal characteristics and personal suitability.

Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

Additional qualifications
Meriting are:

• Experience with graph-based methods and graph convolutional/neural networks;
• Experience with explainable AI (XAI);
• Experience of university level teaching and supervision;
• Experience of programming in Matlab, JavaScript, C++, software version control with Git, typesetting with LaTeX, use and administration of Linux computers, Bash scripting;
• Interest in biomedical research and experience in application of image analysis in medicine.  

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date 1 September 2024 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala. 

For further information about the position, please contact: Prof. Nataša Sladoje (email: natasa.sladoje@it.uu.se); Prof. Joakim Lindblad (email: joakim.lindblad@it.uu.se).

Please submit your application by 24 May 2024, UFV-PA 2024/1518.

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