PhD student in Scientific Computing focusing on Computational Inverse Problems

Do you want to contribute to cutting-edge research that could improve medical diagnostics, infrastructure safety, and more? Are you interested in working on problems at the intersection of scientific computing, applied mathematics, and data-driven engineering, 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, favorable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a PhD position at Uppsala University.

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, have 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.

The position is hosted by the Division of Scientific Computing (TDB) within the Department of Information Technology. As one of the world’s largest focused research environments in Scientific Computing the research and education has a unique breadth, with large activities in classical scientific computing areas such as numerical analysis, mathematical modeling, development and analysis of algorithms, scientific software development and high-performance computing. The division currently hosts 20 PhD students, with more than 90 doctorates awarded. Several PhD alumni from the division are successful practitioners in the field of scientific computing and related areas, in industry as well as in academia. 

eSSENCE graduate school
This PhD position is part of the eSSENCE graduate school in data-intensive science.

The school addresses the challenge of data-intensive science both from the foundational methodological perspective and from the perspective of data-driven science applications. It is an arena where experts in computational science, data science, and data engineering (systems and methodology) work closely together with researchers in (data-driven) sciences, industry, and society to accelerate data-intensive scientific discovery.

eSSENCE is a strategic collaborative research program in e-science between three Swedish universities with a strong tradition of excellent e-science research: Uppsala University, Lund University, and Umeå University.

Project description
The focus of this PhD project is computational inverse problems, specifically ultrasound imaging. Inverse problems are the art and science of looking into a box without opening it. Mathematically speaking, in inverse problems, we reconstruct the coefficients of a partial differential equation from partial observations of a field, for instance, the acoustic pressure. In ultrasound imaging, we try to reconstruct the interior of an object from the recordings of scattered acoustic waves.

In this project, we design, analyze and implement algorithms and methods to solve inverse problems. Most imaging algorithms perform poorly in strongly scattering environments due to simplifying assumptions made in their derivation. The goal of this project is to develop imaging algorithms that overcome such limitations and apply them to 3D ultrasound imaging.

In this project, we design, analyze and implement algorithms and methods to solve inverse problems. Most imaging algorithms perform poorly in strongly scattering environments due to simplifying assumptions made in their derivation. The goal of this project is to develop imaging algorithms that overcome such limitations and apply them to 3D ultrasound imaging.

Duties
A PhD student is expected to devote their time to graduate education mainly. The remainder of the duties may involve teaching at the Department as well as small administrative tasks (at most 20%)

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

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in applied mathematics, scientific computing, technical physics or a related field, 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.

We are looking for candidates with

• a strong interest in numerical methods, mathematical modeling/analysis, and computational physics,
• good communication skills with sufficient proficiency in oral and written English,
• excellent study results,
• programming proficiency,

Additional qualifications
Experience and courses in one or more of the following subjects are valued: numerical analysis for partial differential equations, inverse modeling, high-performance programming, optimization.

Application
The application must include: 

1. a statement (at most 2 pages) of the applicant’s motivation for applying for this position, including a self-assessment on why you would be the right candidate for this position; 
2. a CV;
3. degrees and transcript of records with grades (translated to English or Swedish); 
4. the Master’s thesis (or a draft thereof, and/or some other self-produced technical or scientific text), publications, and other relevant documents; 
5. references with contact information (names, emails and telephone number) and up to two letters of recommendation.

Applicants who meet at least one of the entry requirements are strongly encouraged to apply. All applicants should state their earliest possible starting date.

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 upon (earliest 1 December 2024, latest Summer 2025). Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Assistant Professor: Jörn Zimmerling, email: jorn.zimmerling@it.uu.se; Head of Division Emanuel Rubensson, e-mail: emanuel.rubensson@it.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 10 November 2024, UFV-PA 2024/3213.

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