The recently established (2022) Center for Theranostics (CfT) is the flagship project of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków (JUK) dedicated to interdisciplinary research in the field of nuclear medicine. The center is a home to a globally unique project aiming at a construction of a multi-photon total-body positron emission tomography scanner consisting of plastic scintillators: TB-J-PET (Total-Body Jagiellonian PET). CfT conducts pioneering research in positronium and quantum entanglement imaging.  The first ever positronium images of the human brain were recently demonstrated using the TB-J-PET prototype.   

The J-PET international research group consists of approximately 50 scientists from 12 countries, including nuclear and medical physicists, biophysicists, also computer scientists, molecular biologists and nuclear chemists. The research conducted in two subgroups covers biomedical and medical engineering. The majority of our group are PhD students and early-stage researchers (ESRs), with 15 PhD theses currently in preparation. Our group is currently implementing 17 projects financed by the National Science Center, the Ministry of Science in Poland and Swiss National Science Fundation (SNSF). Center for Theranostics cooperates with the Cyclotron Center in Bronowice, the only hadron therapy center in Poland, in developing proton beam range monitoring  using a modular J-PET scanner during patient therapy.  

The PhD student will be admitted to study Physics or Biophysics education program in the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences at the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science in English as a language of education. We also offer our PhD students unique courses in Medical Physics and Theranostics as well. 

Project description 

Goal 

A cost-effective, modular perioperative detector for dose monitoring during hadron therapy in patients in the upright position. 

Tasks 

• Designing an upright version of the J-PET modular scanner 

• Developing a universal image analysis and reconstruction framework for multi-photon hadronic beam monitoring signals for upright Radiotherapy   

• Validating Proton Therapy to upright phantoms using the upright J-PET modular scanner 

• 3 months secondment @GSI (clinical workflow) 

• 3 weeks of research visiting @Raysearch (dose simulation) 

• 3 weeks of research visiting @HZDR (antropomorphic phantom validation)  

1. Close collaboration with ESRs and PhDs students in the J-PET group (JUK) 

1. Teaching assistant for JUK faculty in Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Sciences 

1. Presentation of research in the form of peer-reviewed publications, reports and oral presentations in workshops, symposiums and conferences 

1. Participation in Consortium training activities and secondment projects 

Your profile 

• Higher education in Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field  

• Good knowledge of English 

• Proven experience in medical image analysis and deep learning frameworks is highly desirable. 

• Excellent problem-solving skills, academic writing skills, and communication skills.  

• Ability to work independently as well as in a team. Effective collaboration attitude with both inter- and intra-institutional partners.  

Application process 

If you find this position interesting and would like to work in an exceptional, international, strongly innovative environment, please send your full application documents, including the filled application form, motivation letter, short CV, list of most important publications with explanation of your own contribution, and information of your earliest possible starting date. If you are applying for more than one UPLIFT PhD position, you may indicate your top 1-3 preferences in the application form by using the DC numbers associated with the projects. Please submit your application to [email protected] until January 15, 2025. 

We anticipate video conference interviews with candidates starting in the third week of February,
for start dates from March 2025. Applications submitted without any of the required documents will not be considered.  

Candidates can be of any nationality but must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date. Applicants should be within the first four years of their research careers and must not have been awarded a doctoral degree. Submitted applications will be evaluated in accordance with the European Code of Conduct for Recruitment.