Background and Motivation: 

The anatomical differences between upright and conventional supine or prone positioning in radiotherapy are significant, which presents new challenges in upright treatment planning. Comprehensively understanding anatomic differences and associated dosimetric impacts is essential to define clinical indication and treatment workflow for Upright RT. 

Goal: 

A comprehensive set of image datasets for the listed anatomical sites for upright treatment simulations encompassing both imaging and treatment planning and comparative upright vs. supine studies. 

Tasks:

• Conduct the comparative image acquisitions for HN, thoracic, upper and lower abdomen (in collaboration with ASG) 
• Evaluate anatomical differences and organ motion between upright and supine positioning
• Define treatment planning criteria and margin recipe via comprehensive comparison planning studies (in collaboration with Raysearch and GSI) 

• 3 months secondment @ASG (Upright MR imaging)
• 3 weeks research visiting @LU/LCC (supporting device)
• 3 weeks research visiting @GSI (arc-PT planning) 

• Close collaboration with ESR1 and PhDs students in PSI-CPT
• Teaching assistant for ETHz Physics department
• Presentation of research in the form of peer-reviewed publications, reports and oral presentations in workshops, symposiums and conferences
• Participation in Consortium training activities and secondment projects

Education/skill:

• Higher education in Physics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field 
• Good knowledge of English
• Proven experience in medical imaging/analysis and treatment planning 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.