In the past decade Deep Learning, Machine Learning, and Computer Vision has progressed with leaps and strides, to the extent that these technologies can be readily used in practice in many applications. One of the most prominent applications is health and oncology. Cancer is the second most frequent cause of death worldwide. The time is ripe to combine the power of Deep Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and pristine Oncological knowledge and data for an application with tremendous impact: battling cancer with adaptive radiotherapy. Adaptive radiotherapy is state-of-the-art medical technology for killing the tumor by radiation. While initially the radiotherapy equipment mostly relies on pre-recorded treatment plans, the idea is to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for dynamic and patient-specific treatment plans, using CT-based imaging to recognize, analyze, and model the behavior of the tumor`real time'.To make this vision a reality, we have formed a Partnership for Online Personalized and AI-enabled Adaptive Radiotherapy project, between the University of Amsterdam (UvA), the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), and Elekta, or POP-AART for short.

The ambitious POP-AART project combines the cutting-edge expertise in AI by the UvA, in Oncology by the NKI, and in manufacturing state-of-the-art adaptive radiotherapy equipment by Elekta. The UvA has a strong track record in AI and machine learning. The NKI is a global leader and internationally recognized center for cancer research and treatment of cancer patients. Elekta Oncology Systems produces state of the art equipment and software for radiation oncology. Together they collaborate in the POP-AART lab. The lab will focus on the use of AI to improve precision radiation in oncology. The UvA and the NKI have identified 6 relevant research directions for this project and are hiring PhD students in computer vision and machine learning for POP-AART.

In particular, we are looking for PhD candidates on the following projects:

• Project 1: Deep Generative Learning for Cone Beam Computed Tomography;
• Project 2: Learning Inverse Models for Cone Beam Computed Tomography Reconstruction;
• Project 3: Deep Learning Geometry for 3D Medical Image Registration';
• Project 4: Interactive Deep Learning for Medical Segmentation;
• Project 5: Learning to Forecast for Adaptive Radiation Therapy;
• Project 6: Reinforcement Learning for Radiation Treatment Plan optimization.

You are going to carry out AI research in one of the six projects mentioned above, as part of the POP-AART lab at both the NKI and the UvA. There will also be regular interactions with researchers at Elekta Oncology Systems. In the lab, you will be supervised by prof. Sonke and dr. Gavves, as well as an assistant professor we are currently hiring. The lab will be part of the Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence, a Netherlands initiative focused on joint technology development between academia, industry and government in the area of artificial intelligence

What are you going to do?

You will carry out research and development in the area of Deep Machine Learning and Vision. The research is embedded in the Video & Image Sense Lab group at the UvA and Dr. J.J. Sonke’s Lab at the NKI.

Your tasks will be to:

• develop new machine learning methods within the context of one of the six research projects;
• collaborate with other researchers within the lab, NKI, UvA and Elekta;
• perform novel academic research on the crossroads of deep machine learning and medical physics. Research will be published in the top related, conferences, including ICLR, NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR, PAMI, MICCAI, AAPM, ICCR, PMB and Medical Physics;
• regularly present intermediate research results at international conferences and workshops, and publish them in proceedings and journals;
• assist in relevant teaching activities;
• complete and defend a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years.

What do we require of you?

• A Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Medical Physics, or related field;
• A strong background in computer vision and/or machine learning;
• Strong analytical skills and technical skills;
• Excellent programming skills preferably in Python; experience with full-stack dev ops is a bonus;
• Excellent mathematics foundations, especially statistics and probability theory, calculus and linear algebra;
• You are highly motivated and creative, with a proactive and independent mindset;
• An interdisciplinary mindset and an open and proactive personality in interacting with researchers from different disciplines;
• Strong communication, presentation and writing skills and excellent command of English;
• Prior publications in relevant vision and machine learning venues will be advantageous for your application.

Fixed-term contract: 18 months.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of four years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended to a total duration of 4 years). This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €2,395 in the first year to €3,061 (scale P) in the last year. This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

University of Amsterdam

With over 6,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science – Informatics Institute

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain. Amsterdam is a livable city with many cultural amenities.

The NKI is among the top 10 comprehensive cancer centers, combining world-class fundamental, translational, and clinical research with dedicated patient care. Approximately 750 persons are employed in the research laboratories of the NKI. Discussions, lectures and seminars are all in English and a multi-national community of postdocs, students and staff members contribute to the stimulating atmosphere of the Institute. We offer an inspiring and interactive research environment, state-of-the-art facilities, training and housing facilities in the vicinity of the Institute.

The position is with Dr. Efstratios Gavves, Associate Professor in the Video & Image Sense lab led by Prof. C. Snoek, and with the Adaptive Radiotherapy group of Prof. Dr. J.J. Sonke.