PhD Position: Robotics Tools for Advanced Endovascular Interventions

Endovascular interventions are vital for treating vascular diseases such as peripheral artery disease, aortic aneurysms, and stroke. These procedures rely on navigating flexible guidewires and catheters through complex vascular anatomy using X-ray imaging. However, this technique poses challenges: manual manipulation is imprecise and physically demanding, and both patients and clinicians are exposed to harmful radiation and contrast agents. In this project, we aim to revolutionize endovascular interventions by developing an autonomous, magnetically assisted guidewire navigation platform. By integrating robotics, advanced control algorithms, 3D spatial navigation, and real-time intraoperative imaging, this technology enables precise, contactless guidewire steering—eliminating the need for mechanical manipulation.
As a PhD candidate, you will work on the following research tasks:
- Autonomous Navigation & Control – Develop magnetic control algorithms for autonomous navigation.
- Precision & Stability Enhancement – Improve system stability and accuracy using sensor data.
- Preclinical Testing & Validation – Conduct validation studies in phantom and animal models to assess performance and reliability.

- MSc in Mechanical, Electrical or Biomedical Engineering, Technical Medicine, , Robotics, Applied Physics, or related field.
- Strong programming skills (e.g., Python, C++) and experience with control systems or medical robotics.
- Affinity with clinical translation and image-guided interventions.
- Proactive, self-motivated, and comfortable working in a multidisciplinary research environment.
- Willingness to work with experimental systems, including in vivo studies.

We offer a challenging position in an enthusiastic team of experts in a broad and rapidly evolving field at the intersection of interventional radiology, robotics, and intelligent systems. As a PhD candidate, you will be part of a collaborative and ambitious academic-industrial partnership with Flux Robotics. You will be appointed for three years in a full-time position (36 hours per week) with a gross salary starting at €3.108 per month in the first year and rising to €3.939 in the final year (scale PRO, from 01-07-2025). Additionally, the UMCG offers an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% year-end bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC). You will have access to excellent research infrastructure, opportunities for international collaboration, and dedicated support for career development and scientific education. All this while living in Groningen, a vibrant and welcoming university city with a great quality of life.

How to Apply
Interview dates will be scheduled in consultation with candidates. Please include a single PDF file - motivation letter, your CV, links to your Google Scholar profile, a list of your academic grades and courses, as well as links to any publicly accessible publications you have authored.

More Information
For more information, please contact the supervisors by e-mail:
- Reinoud Bokkers (r.p.h.bokkers@umcg.nl);
- Prof. Jean-Paul de Vries (j.p.p.m.de.vries@umcg.nl);
- Prof. Sarthak Misra (s.misra@umcg.nl).

You will work in a multidisciplinary environment with close interaction between clinicians, engineers, and scientists, and play a key role in bringing this pioneering system closer to clinical practice. You will closely collaborate with engineers from Flux Robotics and clinicians at UMCG, under the supervision of Prof. Sarthak Misra (Surgical Robotics Laboratory at UMCG), Prof. Jean-Paul de Vries (Vascular Surgery), and Dr. Reinoud Bokkers (Interventional Radiology).