Job Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (RUN MC) - Postdoc ‘Experimental magnetic resonance’, dept. of Radiology

The Radboud University has the most extensive MR research equipment in the Netherlands. For biomedical applications various systems are available for imaging and spectroscopic purposes including two human 1.5T, two human 3T whole body MR systems and a human 7T whole body MR in Essen. High-resolution NMR machines up to 20 T are available at the science faculty. Pre-clinical MR equipment (7 and 11.7 Tesla) is installed in a dedicated animal imaging laboratory together with PET/CT and optical devices. Within the awarded Grant these facilities are currently being even further expanded with a setup for Dynamic Nuclear Polarization studies. 

Prostate cancer is the most important cancer in man. As only aggressive cancers are life threatening it is crucial to identify these cases among the majority of indolent cancers, to select the best therapy. However, no proper biomarkers to image cancer aggressiveness have been established yet. Therefore the aim of this project is to identify non-invasive biomarkers to image aggressiveness of prostate cancer by Magnetic Resonance. Three different approaches will be pursued within this project:
1. Fully exploit current state-of-the-art 3T in vivo MR imaging and spectroscopy.
2. MRI and Proton and phosphorus spectroscopic imaging of patients at 7 Tesla.
3. Dynamic Nuclear Polarization studies of cell cultures and body fluids of patients with different stages of prostate cancer.
With the first two approaches up and running, the third point is now ready to go. The candidate is expected to work in close collaboration with the other members of the team, and has the opportunity to built up his/her own expertise and potentially, group. The postdoc will set up and perform DNP experiments on prostate cell cultures, and in a second stage will harvest and measure body fluids of patients.  

We are looking for enthusiastic candidates with a PhD-degree in (bio-) physics, biochemistry, technical medicine, molecular sciences or a comparable training. The multi-disciplinary character of the project requires a broad interest and good communication skills. Strong interest in or experience with MR (spectroscopy) is mandated. 

We offer a fulltime job for a period of three years, salary according to the collective labor agreement (CAO) of Dutch universities medical centers, scale 10/11 (maximum all-in yearly salary on full time basiss € 64,000 gross) depending on track record and experience.

 

Nijmegen www.umcn.nl/ UMC St Radboud

Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (RUN MC) is a leading academic centre for medical science, education and health care. Knowledge forms the heart of our organisation, connecting research, education and patient care. Over 10,000 staff and 3,500 students are committed and ambitious to contribute to the future of health care and medical science.

Driven by knowledge, empowered by people.

Magnetic resonance (MR) is the major modality for non-invasive investigations of anatomy, physiology and metabolism in humans and animals. The development and application of novel MR methods for the diagnosis, disease prediction and treatment monitoring of human cancers is a main research focus at our department. We are one of the leading groups in MR of prostate cancer, with many years of experience in this field. This research is integrated with clinical examinations and other investigations of prostate tissue to find the best solution for (bio-) medical questions. Our cancer research is translational: to support human studies with new perspectives and understanding, parallel MR investigations are performed in animal models. The MR research group is composed of senior researchers, PhD students and technical staff with clinical, biological, bio-chemical, –physical, -engineering and technical background. We collaborate intensively with the departments of urology, pathology, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine, and with many groups at national and international level (e.g. in EU and US). Together with the Swiss DNP initiative and the dept. of Physical Chemistry of the Radboud University we are setting up a DNP facility in Nijmegen.

For more information please contact:
Dr. ir. Tom Scheenen, +31 (0) 24 3613157, T.Scheenen@rad.umcn.nl