Short description

Are you eager to achieve a breakthrough in the design of innovative medical equipment?

Are you interested to join a long-lasting multidisciplinary, academic-industrial network for doctoral training, with leading European industries and academia?

Managing the risk of electromagnetic interference (EMI) at the core of innovative medical equipment is urgently needed.

Our consortium (based in Belgium, Portugal, Spain and The Netherlands) brings together expertise in 4 areas: ElectroMagnetic Compatibility, Medical Engineering, System engineering and Risk Management. In our 'European Training Network on Electromagnetic Risks in Medical Technology' (ETERNITY) you will work with wearables, on-board platforms, and with collaborative care systems for hospitals.

This project has received funding from the European Union's EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 under Grant Agreement No. 955.816.



Job Description

As one of 14 ESRs (Early Stage Researcher), you will be trained to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, with a new mindset tuned towards the inclusion of the three main elements of a risk-based approach into innovative design methods (e.g., concurrent engineering and agile/scrum design methods). For this inclusion to occur, you will develop through in your research the missing dedicated tools and techniques, and apply them to a representative set of medical devices under development.

In particular, as 'ESR7', you will establish reconfigurable simple test structures that reproduce key couplings, as seen from the device under test while deployed. This will enable to test for diverse identified risks of couplings and interactions before deployment. approach will be tested at one of our medical suppliers and in a hospital.

Your hands-on training is supplemented with several scientific professional courses and an immersive training where you can fine-tune your skills for the Jobs of tomorrow, while addressing on of the societal challenges of the ETERNITY program.

Your 'ESR7' position will be funded by the Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network 'ETERNITY -European Training Network on Electromagnetic Risks in Medical Technology' within the prestigious Horizon 2020 Programme of the European Commission.

The ETERNITY Beneficiaries are 3 high-technology companies in the area of medical technology: Philips Medical (NL), PLUX (PT), and Ficosa (ES). The consortium is completed by 5 universities: TU Eindhoven (NL), University of Twente (NL), KU Leuven (BE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (ES), and FCT/UNL Lisboa (PT). Together, these universities have a proven track record in the management of electromagnetic interference (EMI), medical engineering, system engineering and risk management, and are the leaders in their field in Europe.

The essential clinical involvement is arranged via 2 hospitals, which are Partner Organisations in ETERNITY: Hospital Utrecht (NL) and Hospital CIMA Sanitas (ES). The industrial involvement is completed by 3 Partner Organisations: Eurofins (BE), Barco (BE) and the start-up Plasmacure (NL).

Applicants need to fully respect three eligibility criteria (to demonstrated in the Europass CV):

• Early-stage researchers (ESR) are those who are, at the time of recruitment by the host, in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree which formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided, irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged.
• Conditions of international mobility of researchers: Researchers are required to undertake transnational mobility (i.e. move from one country to another) when taking up the appointment. At the time of selection by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not considered.
• English language: Network fellows (ESRs) must demonstrate that their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English is sufficiently high for them to derive the full benefit from the network training.

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university with the possibility to present your work at international conferences.
• A full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation after one year.
• To support you during your PhD and to prepare you for the rest of your career, you will have free access to a personal development program for PhD students (PROOF program).
• A gross monthly salary between € 2395,- (first year) and € 3061,- (last year) (on a fulltime basis), depending on experience and knowledge. The salary is in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement of the Dutch Universities.
• Benefits in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• Additionally, an annual holiday allowance of 8% of the yearly salary, plus a year-end allowance of 8.3% of the annual salary.
• A broad package of fringe benefits, including an excellent technical infrastructure, moving expenses, and savings schemes.
• Family-friendly initiatives are in place, such as an international spouse program, and excellent on-campus children day care and sports facilities.

The guaranteed PhD funding is for 36 months (i.e. EC funding, additional funding is possible, depending on the local Supervisor, and in accordance with the regular PhD time in the country of origin). In addition to their individual scientific projects, all fellows will benefit from further continuing education, which includes internships and secondments, a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills for the Jobs of Tomorrow acquired through a unique immersive learning.