Job The Rotterdam Eye Hospital - PhD student position – Computer-aided screening of longitudinal series of fundus photo's for diabetic retinopathy.

Project description:

Diabetes patients need to be regularly checked for diabetic retinopathy, an ocular complication of diabetes that affects vision. As the number of diabetes patients increases significantly, the burden on the health care system increases as well. To enable screening of all diabetes patients for diabetic retinopathy in the future, automated screening of retinal photographs is needed. In this project, a system for screening of these fundus photo's will be developed. The focus is on detecting changes within a series of fundus photo's of the same patient.

This project is an initiative of the Rotterdam Ophthalmic Institute (R.O.I.). The R.O.I. is the scientific institute of the Rotterdam Eye Hospital (REH). The REH which was founded in 1874. With 14.500 operating room visits, 150.000 out-patient visits and a staff of 350 employees the hospital is devoted to providing patients with high quality care. It is the only independent Eye Hospital in the Netherlands and research is it’s driving force for innovation. At the R.O.I (see: http://www.eyeresearch-rotterdam.nl), we have a vacancy for a research position. In collaboration with the Quantitative Imaging group (headed by prof. dr. ir. L.J. van Vliet; see http://www.ist.tudelft.nl/qi) of Delft University of Technology, algorithms for detecting changes within a patient's series of fundus photo's will be developed and evaluated in a prototype screening application.

For this position we are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with a masters or equivalent degree in physics, mathematics, computer science, electronics or a related field, with a strong interest in medical image analysis. Candidates should have good programming skills (Matlab / C++) and be able to communicate in English both verbally and in writing. Presenting (preliminary) results of the project on national and international medical and technical conferences and in journals is encouraged. The successful candidate is expected to write a dissertation leading to a PhD degree towards the end of the project. The candidate should have all required permits to work in The Netherlands.

The projects lasts for four years. The initial contract period for one year will be extended to the full four year period subject to a positive evaluation after the first year. You will be appointed by the Rotterdam Eye Hospital for 36 hours per week. The salary will be € 2.084,- in the first year, increasing to € 2.684,- in the last year, in accordance with the CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten and CAO Ziekenhuizen.

The research will be conducted both at the Rotterdam Ophthalmic Institute and at Delft University of Technology, which are situated within just 15 km. In Rotterdam, the candidate will work as part of the Imaging group and interact with technical and medical personnel. In Delft, the candidate will be part of the PhD program of the Quantitative Imaging group. Being based at these two locations gives you access to medical and technical expertise and experience and guarantees a work environment that is both challenging and motivating.

This combined research environment provides a unique opportunity to work with both medical and technical specialists on a highly clinical relevant application.

For more information about this position, please contact Koen Vermeer by phone (+31-650503833) or by e-mail (k.vermeer@eyehospital.nl).