We are seeking a highly motivated and talented PhD candidate to join our new team at the CARA Lab, a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration between Radboudumc and Amsterdam UMC. Will you join our ambitious team?

The CARA Lab is a dynamic and innovative research group focused on the integration of advanced medical imaging and artificial intelligence technologies to improve diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery disease. The lab is a collaboration between Radboudumc, Amsterdam UMC and Abbott, a world-leading international medical device company. This lab is part of the 10-year LTP ROBUST program 'Trustworthy AI-based Systems for Sustainable Growth' consortium, which unites 17 knowledge institutions, 19 participating industry sponsors and 15 civil-social organisations from across the Netherlands. You will gain valuable experience working with an industry partner, and will be able to tap into a wealth of networking, career development, and training opportunities in conjunction with ICAI, the Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence at the University of Amsterdam.

As a PhD candidate you will be involved in integrating novel AI algorithms for real-time analysis of optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the coronary arteries, acquired during cardiac catheterization procedures. Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, you will actively work on bridging the gap between AI technology and clinical practice. This will involve enhancing the output of AI models by focusing on aspects such as interpretability, reliability and trustworthiness. Additionally, you will conduct qualitative research to gain valuable insights into the perspectives of patients and operators, thereby promoting a comprehensive understanding of their perceptions and needs. Ultimately, you will contribute in the setup and implementation of a randomized clinical trial, specifically designed to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of real-time AI-based clinical decision-making during cardiac procedures.

You will work closely within a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, social science researchers, engineers, and industrial partners, and will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of state-of-the-art technology with the potential to transform the field of cardiovascular imaging. Mentoring junior team members and actively shaping the lab's research direction will be integral parts of the role. The position will be primarily based at the Radboudumc, with occasional visits to Amsterdam.

As a PhD you will:

• Engage in research within a multidisciplinary group dedicated to developing AI algorithms for real-time analysis and interpretation of optical coherence tomography (OCT) images during cardiac procedures.
• Translate state-of-the-art technology into clinical practice, contributing to the successful implementation and output of the developed algorithms.
• Conduct qualitative research to gain insights into the perspectives of patients and operators, fostering a deeper understanding of their vision and incorporating it into the research outcomes.
• Design of a randomized trial focused on AI-based clinical decision-making on the cardiac catheterization lab, working on its setup and implementation.
• Disseminate research findings by publishing in esteemed peer-reviewed journals and presenting at international conferences.
• Provide mentorship to junior team members, actively contributing to their professional growth, while also playing a role in shaping the lab's research direction.

You should be a creative and enthusiastic researcher with an MSc degree in a social science discipline, such as (Applied) Ethics, Health Sciences, Humanities, Sociology, Science and Technology Studies, a technical-medical field such as Technical Medicine, or a related area. Candidates with an MD degree are also encouraged to apply.

You demonstrate a clear interest in the intersection of social sciences and technology, particularly in the context of healthcare and AI, showcasing a genuine passion for exploring the social and ethical implications of integrating advanced technologies in medical practice. Have expertise on, or affinity with, Human Computer Interaction in AI fields is a plus. You also have good communication skills and enjoy working in a multidisciplinary team.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Preferred starting date is Q4 2023. The salary depends on education. Scale 10 will be offered to MSc medical graduates; those holding degrees in other disciplines will be offered scale 10A.

Working at Radboud university medical center means that you are ahead of the curve and working together on the healthcare of the future. And there is more. Our secondary terms of employment are impressive. These are fully tailored to you thanks to our Employment Conditions Selection Model. At Radboud university medical center, you will be given trust, and you will take the responsibility to handle everything together. We provide annual courses, both professional and personal.

• A gross monthly salary between € 2.789 and € 3.536 (scale 10A) or between € 3.230 and € 5.088 (scale 10) based on full-time employment.
• From 1 November 2023 the wages will increase by 4%.
• An annual vacation allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• If you work irregular hours, you will receive an allowance.
• As a full-time employee (36 hours per week), you are entitled to approximately 168 vacation hours (over 23 days) per year.
• Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. You pay the rest of the premium with your gross salary.
• You get a discount on health insurance as well: you can take advantage of two group health insurance plans. UMC Zorgverzekering and CZ collectief.

In addition to our terms of employment, we also offer employees various other attractive facilities, such as childcare and sports facilities. Want to learn more? Take a look at the Cao UMC.

Radboudumc

You will work at the Department of Cardiology, a well-established research department comprising more than 25 staff members and over 25 PhD candidates, all with diverse backgrounds as medical doctors, clinical technicians, and (biomedical) engineers. Moreover, the current project is linked to the Diagnostic Image Analysis Group (DIAG), an integral part of the Department of Medical Imaging that is dedicated to the development of computer algorithms to interpret and process medical images. This group currently consists of around 70 researchers.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where scientific breakthroughs are born through the curiosity and passion of our collaborating researchers in a vibrant environment. We believe trust and excitement are crucial elements to achieving our goals, and we approach our research as teams and with the utmost rigor to make a significant impact on health and healthcare. Our researchers are driven by their fascination with the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms underlying health and healthcare. They collaborate with partners from all over the world to improve health outcomes for all. Radboudumc unites patient care, research, education, and corporate learning, which allows us to approach our mission to shape the health and healthcare of the future in an innovative and person-centered way.

Our ambition is to lead the way in the pursuit of prevention, sustainability, meaningful care. We believe that through our research, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of society. Join us on our mission to make a difference in healthcare. Become a part of our community of gifted researchers, professionals or patient partners who are dedicated to making a real impact on population health and healthcare.

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.

Read more about what working at Radboud university medical center means.