PhD position – cardiac monitoring with innovative ultrasound technology

You will be part of a project that will develop wearable heart-monitoring technology based on ultrasound sensors. This is a critical advancement as the aging population increasingly demands better healthcare solutions to chronic diseases. Proper monitoring has the potential to improve quality of life for patients while reducing the burden on healthcare professionals - provided that the monitoring devices deliver reliable data and autonomous interpretation. Your PhD topic at Erasmus MC will be the development of the clinical concept of wearable ultrasound monitoring of the heart. First human testing of the concepts will be done with clinical research equipment and customized probe holders, setting requirements on data quality and measurement conditions. Together with cardiologists, supervisors and colleague PhD students, you will further perform human testing of several prototype devices developed at Delft University of Technology and you will cleverly review and interpret the measurement data, such that you can propose novel autonomous data interpretation techniques. How to process the data such that the outcome indicates the current condition of the heart is part of the intellectual challenge that you will accept with your supervisors, fellow technical-clinical PhD students, cardiologists, and industry collaborators.

This project involves clinical implementation at Erasmus MC, technical development at Delft University of Technology, and close collaboration with industry. You will work within a challenging and diverse overlap area of biomedical research, acoustical and electrical engineering, cardiac routine care, and commercial exploitation. You will be based at the cardiology department of Erasmus MC university medical center Rotterdam, which combines fundamental, pre-clinical and clinical research for the benefit of the patients. Your academic training is oriented towards both your hard and soft skills, and involves learning-on-the-job, following dedicated courses, and of contributing to the group’s educational activities. The aims of your work are to develop innovative technology, publish the results, and to finish your PhD studies with a thesis and successful defence in four years time.

• A master’s degree in biomedical engineering, clinical technology, physics or engineering, at least demonstrating a basic knowledge of wave physics and signal processing.
• Experience in programming (Matlab and/or Python and/or C).
• Analytical mindset.
• Hands-on approach.
• Good interpersonal and interdisciplinary communications skills.
• Proven autonomic attitude in research.
• Good knowledge of written and spoken English and Dutch.

Preferences:

• Affinity with engineering solutions.
• Affinity with both experimental and clinical work.
• Motivation for teaching and supervision of students.

• You will receive a temporary position for 4 years.
• The gross monthly salary amounts a minimum of € 3.108,- and a maximum of € 3.939,- (scale OIO), based on a full working week of 36 hours.
• Excellent fringe benefits, such as a 13th month that is already paid out in november.
• Pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 2/3 of the monthly contribution.
• Special benefits, such as an incompany physiotherapist and bicycle repairer. And there is also a gym where you can work on your fitness after work.

Benefits:

• Excellent multi-disciplinary environment.
• Broad academic training.
• Visits to international conferences.

Erasmus MC stands for a healthy population and excellent care through research and education. Pioneering work, pushing boundaries and leading the way in research, education and care is what we do. At Erasmus MC we are committed to a healthy society and excellent care. Enthusiastic professionals work here who build the health of tomorrow with knowledge, decisiveness and a passion for care.