Are you the ambitious PhD candidate we are looking for to further develop radionuclide therapy into an effective and widely available treatment for cancer patients? We would like to get to know you!

In radionuclide therapy, a tumor-targeting vector is coupled to a therapeutic radionuclide to specifically irradiate tumor lesions from inside the body. This approach allows for the delivery of a high radiation absorbed dose to (metastasized) tumor lesions, while sparing healthy tissues. Despite the high potential of treatment, we currently do not know which type of radionuclide is most effective to kill cancer cells and what is its underlying mechanism of action. Within this NWO funded consortium project “UNRANU” we aim to unravel the radiobiological effects of radionuclide therapy and contribute to novel production methods for therapeutic radionuclides and patient-specific treatment. More specifically, your task will be to develop dosimetry models to calculate the tumor-absorbed dose in cell experiments, 3D organoid models, and mouse tumor models and to correlate the absorbed dose to the biological effects.

Work in a large consortium and closely connect with different stake holders from academia, industry and society (e.g. TU Delft, ErasmucMC, NRG|PALLAS, AlfaRIM, HUB Organoids, MILabs, Quirem Medical, RTM, Siemens Healthineers, TerThera, URENCO, Von Gahlen, VSL RIVM, Wetenschapsknooppunt, patient organisations) to plan, discuss, and perform research in a stimulating environment.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Develop dosimetric models to calculate (heterogeneous) tumor-absorbed doses for in vitro cell culture, 3D organoids, and mouse experiments.
• Correlate the absorbed dose-calculations with the biological outcome after radionuclide therapy.
• Analyze scientific data.
• Write scientific publications and present findings at (inter)national scientific meetings.

You have well-developed communicational and social skills directed towards working in a team. You have strong analytical and problem-solving skills. You are enthusiastic and have a strong motivation to successfully complete a PhD. You have interest for and are trained in radiation physics, radiation biology, radiation safety, or dosimetry.

Further you recognize yourself in the profile below:

• Masters degree in (bio)physics, health physics, technical medicine, clinical technology, or equivalent.
• Experience with Geant4 or other relevant software tools used for dose calculations and treatment planning (e.g. Monte Carlo codes, image segmentation, Python).
• Permit to work with radioactivity (or willing to obtain this permit).

Fixed-term contract: Maximum 4 years.

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• Upon commencement of employment, you will start at scale 10A, step 0 (€2,901 based on a full-time appointment). Over a maximum period of 4 years, you will progress to scale 10A, step 3 (€3,677 based on a full-time appointment). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a 47% to 72% bonus for working unsocial hours.
• Plenty of opportunities for personal development. You can take a variety of courses in our online learning environment. You can also share knowledge with colleagues through digital learning spaces – perfect for getting inspired and inspiring others.
• Your well-being and vitality are our priorities. For instance, you can enjoy a 40% discount on a sports subscription at the Radboud Sports Center along with access to the Healthy Professionals program designed to assist you in managing your energy. If you are going through a life-changing event, our Company Support Team and a personal coach are there to help you.
• Support in achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. This includes advice and training courses (from ‘Millennial Dilemmas’ to ‘Your Career After 57’), activities at our own mindfulness center, and informal caregiving consultations if you have questions about juggling work and caregiving responsibilities at home.
• 168 holiday hours per year (23 days) based on a 36-hour working week.
• 26 weeks of parental leave, nine of which are paid.
• Pension accrual with the ABP Pension Fund. Radboudumc pays 70% of the pension premium.
• Discounts on health insurance and ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• An allowance for your travel expenses or a working-from-home allowance of €2 per day.

Radboudumc

The Department of Medical Imaging has a long-standing research line on the development and application of radiolabeled tracers for nuclear imaging and therapy. Within the department, there is a strong focus on translational research by collaborations between basic scientists and clinical researchers. Research includes molecular studies on the working mechanism of nuclear therapies, preclinical development of new imaging and therapeutic agents for cancer patients and clinical trials.

The department has excellent research facilities, including level B radionuclide laboratories and GMP radiolabeling facilities. Further a preclinical imaging center (PRIME) with state-of-the art imaging facilities including microPET/CT, microSPECT/CT, IVIS fluorescence/bioluminescence and small-bore high-field MRI. The research group consists of approximately 30 researchers, including senior scientists, PhD students, medical doctors, and research technicians.

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.