RFS is a novel technology utilizing wearable radio antennas that can offer a patient-friendly and effective diagnostic solution for heart failure patients and potentially for other chronic illnesses. In this project, we aim to develop the radio-frequency sensing (RFS) technology as a novel diagnostic modality in cardiology. RFS utilizes wearable radio antennas placed on the patients' chest to measure the heart's pumping function and detect deterioration of heart failure in order to provide a timely warning and allow patients to adapt medication. The objective of this project is to provide direct evidence that RFS can measure pressure in the heart, thus enabling the monitoring of decompensated heart failure.
As a candidate, you will work on optimization of the RFS antenna technology in simulations and bench experiments, ex vivo validation experiments, and algorithm development to translate RFS measurements into clinical parameters. Finally, a clinical pilot will be performed in heart failure patients to validate RFS against gold standard hospital available methods such as MRI and echography. The core RFS team is situated in the radiology department and consists of MRI and RF physicists, and the extended team contains cardiologists.

The total project duration is 48 months and is funded by Health Holland. As this project is funded by a public-private partnership grant, you will also work closely with UMC Utrecht spin-off PrecorDx in this project.

For training-purposes, the PhD candidate will be affiliated with the PhD program of the Utrecht University Graduate School of Life Sciences. The PhD program provides a broad selection of courses and organizes various scientific workshops and colloquia.

We offer

• A full-time position (36 hours per week) in a very stimulating and interactive research environment at the department of radiology.
• The monthly salary is according to the standard conditions for PhD students in the Netherlands, based on the Collective Labor Agreement (CAO) Dutch University Medical Centers.
• In addition, we offer an annual benefit of 8.3%, holiday allowance, travel expenses and career opportunities.
• Temporary employment for 12 months with possible extension to 48 months (duration of project).

• You have a completed Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, Technical Medicine, Electrical Engineering or Physics.
• You are highly motivated and capable to work in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• You have strong affinity with experimental work.
• You have strong programming skills (Matlab and/or Python)
• You have high proficiency in spoken and written English.
• You have good communication skills and you are driven by scientific curiosity.

Ideally, you:

• have experience with signal analysis;
• have experience with machine learning;
• have experience with radio-frequency hardware design; and
• are not afraid to be part of a team that also performs clinically oriented research.

The maximum salary for this position (36 - 36 hours) is € 3.536,00 gross per month based on full-time employment.

In addition, we offer an annual benefit of 8.3%, holiday allowance, travel expenses and career opportunities. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Cao University Medical Centers (UMC).

You will be part of the Computational Imaging Group at UMC Utrecht. The Computational Imaging Group for MRI Therapy & Diagnostics works on image acquisition, reconstruction and processing for MRI guided radiotherapy and diagnostics. The group has an especially strong expertise in using deep learning for medical imaging. Another focus area is radiofrequency engineering where we focus on RF antenna engineering for MRI, RF safety aspects such as RF induced tissue heating and usage of RF antenna methods for monitoring heart function. The candidate will work specifically within the RF engineering subgroup, which is a highly motivated multi-disciplinary team bringing experience in physics, electrical engineering and AI. Furthermore, the candidate will work closely with together with the Cardiology department and industry partners such as the UMCU spinoff PrecorDx.