We have shown in several publications that image features in medical images of head and neck cancer patients are related to treatment outcome and to the risk on complications after radiotherapy. In this project the added value of using deep learning techniques to identify prognostic and predictive image features will be explored. Deep learning algorithms will be developed and optimized for this purpose in cooperation with the project partner COSMONIO (https://cosmonio.com). Methods will be developed and validated based on clinical data from the UMCG and the German partner Pius Hospital Oldenburg. After validation those methods can be used to optimize the radiotherapy treatment of individual patients.

- Excellent researcher with PhD in (Applied) Physics, Technical Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science or related discipline.
- Experienced in programming preferably in Python and C++.
- Experience with machine learning, deep learning, clinical modeling, diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy and DICOM data.
- Excellent team player, thorough in documentation, clear in communication.
- Affinity with research and medicine.
- Fluent in English and/or Dutch.

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. The UMCG can provide you with the vaccination, should it be required for your position.

In case of specific professions a ‘Certificate of Good Behaviour’ is required.

- Fulltime position (36 hours) at the UMCG for a maximum of three years, starting 3rd quarter 2018.
- Your salary dependent on qualifications and work experience up to a maximum of € 4.216,- (scale 10) gross per month for a fulltime position.
- The UMCG will offer you 8% holiday allowance, 8,3% end of the year bonus and a development budget.
- Conditions of employment are according to the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centers (CAO-UMC).
- Assistance in obtaining housing is possible.

More information
Marianna Sijtsema, PhD, Medical Physicist, Department of Radiation Oncology
Phone +31-621102076 / +31 50 3613674 (secretariat), e-mail: n.m.sijtsema@umcg.nl (please do not use for applications).

Peter van Ooijen, PhD, Medical Informatics, Center for Medical Imaging (CMI)
Phone +31 50 361 2286, e-mail: p.m.a.van.ooijen@umcg.nl (please do not use for applications)

Center for Medical Imaging/ Dept. of Radiation Oncology

The department of Radiation Oncology at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) is looking for a Postdoc to develop and apply deep learning methods for medical image analysis in radiotherapy. The postdoc position is embedded in the DAME (Deep learning Algorithms for Medical Image Evaluation) project funded by the EU programme INTERREG, in which the department of Radiation Oncology and the Center of Medical Imaging of the UMCG work together with Dutch and German Industry and Clinical partners.

The department of Radiation Oncology in the UMCG is one of the largest departments in this specialism in the Netherlands and treats about 4500 patients a year. The department has nine linear accelerators, of which 2 in a satellite department in Emmen and uses the most advanced imaging and radiation techniques (including IMRT, VMAT, stereotactic treatments). Recently, we treated the first patient with proton therapy in the Netherlands in the UMC Groningen Proton Therapy Center (GPTC). The department has over 200 employees including medical physicists, radiation oncologists, radiation therapists and researchers.

The department of Radiation Oncology has a large expertise in machine learning for modeling normal tissue complications based on both clinical and image data. Unique research datasets of clinical and follow-up data combined with multimodality images are available for this purpose.