Lund University, Faculty of Science, Division of Medical Radiation Physics

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 47 000 students and more than 8 800 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

Description
Radionuclide therapy is a radiation therapy modality in which radioactive substances, so called radiopharmaceuticals, are administered for the treatment of tumor disease. Some radionuclide therapies open for the theranostic approach in which diagnostic PET imaging can be made prior to or after radionuclide therapy using the same or a sister radiopharmaceutical.

The research group in Nuclear Medicine physics at the Department of Medical Radiation Physics has extensive experience in personalized image-based dosimetry in the field of radionuclide therapy. Our platform, called LundADose, includes for example programs for quantitative tomographic reconstruction of SPECT images, planar image quantification and analysis, CT calibration methods, and a number of tools for processing and analysis of image data including image segmentation, pharmacokinetic curve fitting, and voxel-based absorbed-dose calculation. In addition, we have developed the internationally recognized Monte Carlo program SIMIND for simulation of nuclear medicine scintillation cameras and SPECT systems. The latest addition to our program package includes the modelling of PET systems and processing of PET images., e.g. using 68Ga-labelled DOTA-TATE prior to therapy with 177Lu-DOTA-TATE.

The research group is working in close collaboration with health care and has members that are clinically active medical physicists and oncologists. As part of this collaboration, our dosimetry package LundADose has been used as part of clinical trials and several clinically oriented projects. We also have extensive international collaboration and take part in the EANM Dosimetry committee, projects driven within the IAEA and the ICRU, and EU-funded research initiatives.

The focus of this post doc position will mainly be in the field of personalized image-based dosimetry and image analysis, with particular focus on 177Lu-DOTA-TATE treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. Specifically, we aim to analyze existing data on pharmacokinetics of kidneys and tumors on a population level. We also aim to investigate the use of convolutional neural networks for image analysis  of nuclear medicine images by implementation of available software packages.

Requirements
The tasks of the post doc position primarily aim towards the development of mathematical, statistical and image processing tools to extract and combine information from medical images, to be applied in internal dosimetry for radionuclide therapy. The method development will include the application of convolutional neural networks for image analysis. In parallel, for verification of the developed image analysis tools, the task includes experimental work using 3D printing techniques. In order to succeed with these aims, the applicant needs to be able to demonstrate documented mathematical skills. The applicant also needs to demonstrate extensive skills in computer programming (preferably in Python, MATLAB or IDL) and the ability to transfer mathematical algorithms to practical applications. A documented knowledge of personalized internal dosimetry in radionuclide therapy is a demand. In addition, a documented experience in the use of 3D printing techniques is a merit, including phantom design and practical implementation, as needed for validation purposes.

Tasks
The tasks for the post doc position will mainly be dedicated to research. However, the position may include occasional teaching at the medical physicist education and at the department of medical radiation physics. In addition, the applicant may take part in the supervision of doctoral students and master's theses. Together the tasks related to teaching and/or supervision will be at maximum 20 % of the time, calculated over the entire period of employment. The distribution between research and teaching may change over time.

Employment period
The employment is planned to start during the autumn 2020 and is scheduled for full-time employment for a total of 2 years. The position is located at Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Sweden.

Qualification requirements
Eligible to be hired to the post-doctor position is the individual who has completed his doctorate in medical radiation physics or the corresponding subject area at most six years before the end of the application period. The applicant should be able to demonstrate documented mathematical skills, an excellent ability to communicate in English in spoken and written, extensive computer programming skills, well-founded knowledge in personalized internal dosimetry, and the development of phantoms using 3D printing techniques.

Assessment criteria and other qualifications
This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment
This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of a maximum of 2 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S, OFR/S and SEKO, dated 4 September 2008.

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment According to decicion
Salary Monthly salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Lund
County Skåne län
Country Sweden
Reference number PA2020/2743
Contact
  • Michael Ljungberg, Division Supervisor, +4646173565
  • Katarina Sjögreen-Gleisner, Senior lecturer, +46 46 173133
  • Magdalena Brossing, HR coordinator, +46 46 222 95 62
Union representative
  • OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli, 046-222 93 62
  • SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet, 046-222 93 64
Published 11.Sep.2020
Last application date 12.Oct.2020 11:59 PM CEST

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