The PhD project aims to develop a generic image registration framework that is capable of automatically configuring itself to be applied to several biomedical image registration tasks. The main focus of the PhD is on the technical development of appropriate methods and requires a certain mathematical understanding. However, the methods developed are to be applied in the field of medical domain and in particular in the field of oncological treatment assessment.

Image registration is the process of aligning two or more images to achieve pointwise spatial correspondence. This step is crucial in medical image analysis as it enables the integration of previously unrelated data, allowing for joint processing of information. One significant application of image registration is in the follow-up assessment of cancer patients. By establishing spatial correspondences between multiple images, it aligns anatomical structures and facilitates the automatic quantification of findings in subsequent imaging examinations. This saves radiologists a significant amount of time while ensuring accurate and efficient patient care.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Conduct research in the development of image registration methods.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to translate cutting-edge technology into clinical practice.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to the development of the lab's research direction.
• Co-organize the international Learn2Reg image registration challenge and be active in the research community.

You should be a creative and enthusiastic researcher with an MSc degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering or similar. You have a clear interest to develop artificial intelligence algorithms and an affinity with healthcare. 

Furthermore you have: 

• Expertise in software development, preferably in Python.
• Experience with deep learning, machine learning, and image analysis or time series analysis is a plus.
• Good communication skills and enjoy working in a multidisciplinary team.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

You will be appointed for four years as a PhD student with the standard salary and secondary conditions for PhD students in the Netherlands. The research should result in a PhD thesis.

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) 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 in the Diagnostic Image Analysis Group (DIAG). DIAG is part of the Departments of Imaging, Pathology, Ophthalmology, and Radiation Oncology of Radboud University Medical Center. We develop computer algorithms to interpret and process medical images. The group currently consists of around 70 researchers. Radboud University Medical Center and Radboud University are located in Nijmegen, the oldest Dutch city with a rich history and one of the liveliest city centers in the Netherlands. Radboud University has over 17,000 students. Radboud UMC is a leading academic center for medical science, education and health care with over 8,500 staff and 3,000 students.

Research Institutes
At the moment there are more than 1,300 PhD candidates at our medical hospital. This number includes PhD candidates on our pay roll as well as external candidates (those employed somewhere else but researching on our premises).

• Radboud Institute for Health Sciences: ± 700
• Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences: ± 400
• Donders Center for Medical Neurosciences: ± 200

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

Radboudumc
Radboud university medical center is a university medical center for patient care, scientific research, and education in Nijmegen. Radboud university medical center strives to be at the forefront of shaping the healthcare of the future. We do this in a person-centered and innovative way, and in close collaboration with our network. We want to have a significant impact on health and healthcare. We want to improve with each passing day, continuously working towards better healthcare, research, and education. And gaining a better understanding of how diseases arise and how we can prevent, treat, and cure them, day in and day out. This way, every patient always receives the best healthcare, now and in the future. Because that is why we do what we do.

Read more about our strategy and what working at Radboud university medical center means. Our colleagues would be happy to tell you about it. #weareradboudumc