PhD position 2 in Ophthalmology, Imaging of the Anterior Segment

Workplace description
The PhD project will be conducted in the field of Experimental Medical Diagnostics within the Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund. The interdisciplinary research group is led by Professor Malin Malmsjö and Associate Professor Aboma Merdasa, and includes clinicians, physicists, and engineers developing optical and acoustic imaging technologies for medical diagnostics.

The group is part of the Lund University Clinical Center for Spectroscopic and Acoustic Imaging and is based at the Department of Ophthalmology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund.

Description of PhD Project

The PhD project “Monitoring Anterior Segment Perfusion and Oxygenation During Strabismus Surgery” aims to develop and evaluate non-invasive imaging techniques for real-time monitoring of blood flow and oxygenation in the anterior segment during strabismus surgery. The project will combine Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), and Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) to obtain comprehensive information on perfusion, vascularization, and oxygenation of ocular tissues. The overarching goal is to improve surgical outcomes and reduce the risk of anterior segment ischemia by providing objective measurements of tissue perfusion.

The Department of Clinical Sciences Lund is now announcing a vacancy for a PhD position and employment as a doctoral student within the research area Medical Science, specifically Ophthalmology. The position is linked to the Ph.D. project entitled “Monitoring Anterior Segment Perfusion and Oxygenation During Strabismus Surgery”.

The main task of the doctoral student will be to conduct an independent research project under supervision. The aim of the project is to improve surgical safety and reduce the risk of anterior segment ischemia through objective measurement of blood supply. The project consists of several sub-studies that compare and combine these techniques, both in healthy volunteers and in patients undergoing strabismus, evisceration, and enucleation surgery.

The position is full-time for 48 months. The proposed starting date is January 1, 2026, or upon agreement.

We offer
Lund University is a public authority, which means that employees get benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee: Work at Lund University

Work description
The PhD student will:

• plan and conduct imaging studies on patients and healthy volunteers
• analyze image and perfusion data using LSCI, OCT, and HSI
• interpret physiological parameters and correlate findings across modalities
• write scientific manuscripts and present results at international conferences
• participate in doctoral courses and research seminars

Qualifications
Necessary qualifications for the job:

• Ongoing or completed medical degree (equivalent to at least 240 ECTS, 60 at the advanced level)
• Documented research experience in medical imaging or experimental ophthalmology
• Experience with data analysis, image processing, and statistics
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken
• Ability to work both independently and in a clinical research environment

Meritorious are:

• Experience with optical imaging (HSI, LSCI, OCT)
• Clinical or translational research experience
• Authorship or contribution to scientific publications

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. 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.

Type of employment
Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.

How to apply
Applications are to be submitted via the University’s recruitment system. The application should include a CV and a personal letter justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications. The application should also include a degree certificate or equivalent and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (copies of grade transcripts, details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Welcome to apply!

The Department of Clinical Sciences Lund is one of six departments at the Faculty of Medicine. Clinical Sciences Lund cooperates closely with Skåne University Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine in order to optimize the conditions for preclinical and clinical translational research, research strategies and development, as well as education on both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.