Doctoral student in Medical Radiation Physics with a focus on MR-Physics - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The department of Medical Radiation Physics is engaged in research and education in ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, and its use mainly in medical applications such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radiation therapy, X-ray physics, and nuclear medicine.

The MR physics research group https://www.msf.lu.se/research/mr-physics-group has its primary focus on development of new techniques for assessment of functional information related to perfusion, diffusion, cortical activation/fMRI, flow, chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) as well as quantitative MRI in the brain and in the musculoskeletal system.

Description
Diffusion MRI (dMRI) measures microscopic properties in the tissue by studies of the random motion of water molecules. In dense tissue, diffusion is slow, while it appears to be faster in looser tissue. dMRI can therefore detect cancers that cause the tissue to be abnormally dense. Unfortunately, current dMRI methods have a limited performance. This shortcoming can be remedied by executing a wider range of diffusion encoding, and thereby learning more about the tissue microstructure. For example, we aim to distinguish properties like cell density, cell shape, cell size, blood volume, and cell membrane permeability. Once estimated, these parameters can serve as biomarkers to improve the diagnostics and monitoring of disease.

Educational assignments
The main assignment is to develop methods for accurate and precise assessment of microstructural changes in the brain in various neurological conditions. The members of the MR physics group continuously work on improving their technical approach, meaning that the assignment can include image reconstruction, machine learning and programming of the actual MRI system. The research group has a large international collaborative network, which means that travel for planning and execution of various future collaborative projects will be encouraged. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Eligibility
Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who- have completed a second-cycle degree- have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

Additionally, to be accepted for third-cycle studies in Medical Radiation Physics the applicant must have a MSc degree in Medical Physics, or completed an alternative university education (fulfilling the basic eligibility criteria) that includes courses of at least 60 credits of direct relevance to the doctoral studies announced here, and has completed a research project work (MSc thesis project, or equivalent) corresponding to at least 30 credits.

Other requirements:

• Ability to communicate well in spoken and written English, to a standard that allows teaching at various levels as well as writing of scientific publications.
• The holder of this position must have the ability and willingness to teach, as part of the departmental duties.

The following aspects will be considered meritorious: 

• High organizational skills
• Medical physicist certification
• Good knowledge of MR physics
• Experience of clinical MRI research
• Completed MSc degree project in quantitative MRI
• Understanding of practical MRI work in a hospital environment
• Experience of programming languages such as MATLAB, Python and/or C++
• Ability to cooperate well with colleagues and to to communicate well

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence. Admission to third-cycle (doctoral) studies is based primarily on the evaluated ability of the student to pursue and benefit from such studies.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Terms of employment
Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Application
The application is to be made online. An incomplete application will not be processed.

The application must contain: 

1. CV
2. A copy of the 30 credit master's degree project thesis (or equivalent)
3. Copies of certificates and documents that the applicant wishes to claim.