BEMÆRK: Ansøgningsfristen er overskredet
We invite candidates within Medical Science and Science to apply for one of two PhD positions in our multidisciplinary research group hosted at the Departments of Oncology and Radiology at Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev and Gentofte. Anticipated start date is April 1st, 2024, or soon hereafter.
The project involves the assessment, adaptation and target delineation of oncological patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment using dual energy and photon counting CT. One PhD student will have a science background and investigate the quantitative/physical aspects of the project. The other PhD student will have a medical background and investigate the clinical aspects of the project.
Project description
The aim is to investigate the value of photon counting CT (PCCT) and dual-energy CT (DECT) for advanced radiation therapy (RT) planning and response assessment in patients with cancer. DECT offers novel tissue characterization in addition to traditional attenuation coefficients. The emerging PCCT technology provides increased spatial resolution, a decrease in noise and beam hardening artefacts in addition to DECT.
The new technologies offer better contrast properties due to enhanced material decomposition and thus add biological information. An Iodine map can visualize the perfused blood volume as presented by the neovascular structure within tumors and normal tissue and quantify the development or destruction of the vascular structures in response to radiotherapy.
In the project we will test the DECT/PCCT derived reconstructions potential to
- improve delineation accuracy of both tumors and organs-at-risk (OARs) in relation to radiotherapy planning
- improve the discrimination between tumor progression and treatment related fibrosis in treatment response assessment during follow-up
- Predict and quantify normal tissue response to radiotherapy (toxicity) and compare to routine clinical exams and project specific patient reported outcome measures
Responsibilities and tasks
The two PhD students will work together in close collaboration with the clinical staff and are expected to share responsibility and tasks dynamically throughout the project period. The overall responsibilities and tasks include (but not limited to):
- Scientific protocol implementation and amendments.
- DECT/PCCT phantom measurements.
- Imaging acquisition protocols.
- Generation and storage of image reconstructions.
- Develop patient PRO and image quality questionnaires and database.
- Coordinate patient recruitment and protocol logistics.
- Tumor and normal tissue delineation and analysis.
- Response evaluation and follow-up data collection and analysis.
- Compute models for the prognostic and predictive value of PCCT/DECT derived biomarkers.
- In-silico simulations of DECT/PCCT-based radiotherapy plan adaptation.
- Produce biannual progress reports to the project sponsor.
The Science PhD candidate:
- Master's degree in physics, medical physics, computer science, med-tech engineering, or similar
- Previous experience or interest in medical physics or medical imaging
- Programming skills
- Data handling experience
- Medical doctor (MD) with Danish authorization or equivalent
- Previous experience with clinical Oncology or Radiology
- Interest in medical technology implementation
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval and will be enrolled in the Clinical Cancer Research PhD-program at the University of Copenhagen (MD) or at the Technical University of Denmark or the Niels Bohr Institute (Science candidate).
We offer
An active multidisciplinary research environment within the section of Radiotherapy at the department of oncology. We currently employ several PhD students, master students and postdocs. The Medical PhD students collaborate on patient recruitment and follow-up in scientific projects.
At Herlev & Gentofte Hospital, 3.500 patients are treated with radiotherapy annually. The hospital has obligations to perform research, development, and education. The radiotherapy clinic is an integrated part of the department of oncology. The section of radiophysics takes part in the clinical production involving the preparation, quality assurance and development of the radiotherapy treatment. Further, novel equipment and techniques are continuously implemented. The clinic currently has ten linear accelerators (incl. a combined MR/accelerator and two AI-based adaptive systems), kV X-ray equipment, two Siemens DECT scanners, one MR scanner, dose planning software, and dosimetric equipment.
The department of radiology is located at two sites, both in Herlev and Gentofte. The department has 13 DECT scanners including the first Scandinavian installation of a commercial Siemens Photon-Counting Detector (PCCT). I addition, the department has a range of modern ultrasound, MRI and conventional radiography equipment. Since 2013, the department has had a CT Innovation Unit, working on the implementation of novel technology in collaboration with Siemens – this in addition to research undertaken at the department, within CT use and artificial intelligence implementation. The department performs close to 100.000 CT scans each year and is deeply involved in the detection, diagnosis, staging and treatment monitoring of almost all oncological patients at the hospital.
For further information, please contact the project supervisors at Herlev & Gentofte Hospital, Jens Edmund (Medical physicist, PhD, Aff. Ass. Prof.): jens.edmund@regionh.dk or senior oncologist (MD, PhD, Ass. Prof.): gitte.persson@regionh.dk.
Salary and appointment terms
The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD students at University of Copenhagen and/or Technical University of Denmark. The period of employment is 3 years.
Application
Please submit your application no later than February 18th 2024 (23:59 CET)
We expect the position to begin Marts 1st 2024 or soon hereafter by agreement.
Applications must be submitted as pdf files containing all materials to be given consideration. The files must include:
- A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
- Curriculum vitae
- Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma. For international applicants, please convert your transcripts using the DTU GPA calculator (https://studyabroad.dtu.dk/english/-/media/subsites/study_abroad/dokumenter/gpa-calculator_2024.xlsx).
- References
- If applicable: List of publications
INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:
- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:
Herlev Kommune
-Virksomheden tilbyder:
-Arbejdsgiver:
Herlev Hospital, Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej , 2730 Herlev
-Ansøgning:
Ansøgningsfrist: 18-02-2024; - ansøgningsfristen er overskredet
Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/CV/FindWork/Details/5972571
