Spot-scanning proton and heavy ion arc (SHArc) is an emerging topic in the field of ion beam therapy. Other than the conventional ion beam therapy approach, which uses a small number of intensity modulated beams to treat the tumour, SHArc leverages the increased flexibility that comes with irradiation from a large number of beam directions. This can produce a more conformal treatment for certain indications, such as oropharyngeal cancer, and may enable better targeting of radio-resistant tumour regions by focusing the region of high linear energy transfer in hypoxic tumour regions. While gantry-based arc delivery has been developed for protons, for heavy ions, gantries are rare, because of their large size and enormous cost. Upright patient positioning will bring SHArc treatment planning concepts to clinical feasibility. There are, however, multiple challenges to be solved when rotating the patient in front of a fixed beam for SHArc delivery.  

1. New planning algorithms that take into account and optimize on the parameters set by the upright positioning device are needed 
2. The treatment delivery sequence has to be optimized to permit the most efficient delivery, that fits in the clinical workflow at ion beam therapy centres 
3. The upright positioning system needs to be interfaced with the beam delivery system to ensure accurate and safe SHArc irradiation 

The project will tackle these challenges, utilizing state-of-the-art infrastructure available at the GSI. The TRiP98 in-house treatment platform includes a dedicated infrastructure for SHArc plan optimization, including strategies for efficient beam delivery via spot and energy layer reduction techniques. This platform will be further advanced within the DC 5 project to tailor it to the parameter space of upright treatments. Further, a small-scale demonstrator system, already connected to the dose delivery system at GSI’s Cave M, will enable to test the developed ideas in practice. Secondments are planned with Raysearch laboratories in Stockholm, Sweden, to investigate advanced SHArc planning concepts, as well as with the Czech Technical University in Prague for QA of SHArc therapy and the Jagellonian University for investigating PET as a possible SHArc verification technique. Overall, the project offers a fruitful research environment for research in SHArc therapy, enhanced by further collaborations within the SHArc community.  

Applicant profile 

To realise upright SHArc therapy we are looking for a highly motivated candidate that holds a master’s degree in physics, engineering or computer science with a keen interest to do research. You should  

• Have programming skills in at least one of the following languages (C, C+, Python) 

• Be fluent in English 

• Preferentially have experience in designing ion beam experiments 

• Preferentially have experience in medical physics, particularly ion beam therapy and treatment planning 

• Have excellent scientific writing and communication skills, preferentially proven through participation at conferences and/or scientific publication 

• Be able to work independently as well as in a team, with an effective collaboration attitude in inter- and intra-institution teams 

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.