PhD student in Medical Radiation Physics

Position: PhD student

Institution: Stockholm Univerisity

Location: Stockholm

Application closes at: Apr 23rd, 2024 10:39

URL: https://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs/phd-student-positions-1.507588?rmpage=job&rmjob=23241&rmlang=UK

The Department of Physics is located in the AlbaNova University Center and has approximately 240 employees, 250 students at undergraduate level and 95 graduate students. There are four research subjects within the postgraduate program: Physics, Theoretical Physics, Chemical Physics and Medical Radiation Physics. These subjects span over several research groups with different research activities. For information about the Department of Physics, see: www.fysik.su.se/english.

Project description
Subject: Medical Radiation Physics

Radiation treatment is one of the main therapeutic modalities for the treatment of cancer. It succeeds in the eradication of tumours in many patients with the preservation of the vital functions of the nearby healthy organs. However, increases in the success rate of treatment are still necessary and attempts to improve radiotherapy are continuously made as local tumour control and prevention of the metastatic spread are important requirements for the success of cancer treatment.

The project aims at developing a personalized radiotherapy strategy with focus on imaging-based methods to optimise and/or adapt radiation treatment plans targeting areas more likely to develop recurrence, such as the more radioresistant regions that can be identified and characterized with the use of functional imaging. Modelling the radiation-induced anti-tumour response of the immune system will also be considered. The project will focus on development of radiobiological models for defining the radiobiological target accounting for the particular pathological characteristics of the tumour and its microenvironment as well as the integration of the models into the research version of a treatment planning system for radiotherapy. Further development of optimisation approaches for probabilistic and/or robust planning are also planned as part of the project, including the exploration of accounting for combined therapies such as radio-immunotherapy. Image analysis, programming and use of clinical software’s for treatment planning will be central components of the work. The project will concern both photon and particle therapy. The PhD project may, to some degree, be adjusted depending on the applicant’s area of expertise and interests.

We seek a self-motivated candidate who is fluent in English. The PhD candidate will become an important member in an expanding and active research group in the multidisciplinary field of medical imaging and radiotherapy in cancer treatment, and the candidate’s personal and communicative skills will therefore be emphasized. Training, continuous supervision and opportunities for participation at national and international courses and congresses will be offered. The optimal candidate for the position should enjoy working proactively, taking initiatives, and solving complex problems both independently and in collaboration with colleagues.

Education at the research level
A PhD education at Stockholm University is four years (48 months). The 4-year PhD program includes at least 3 years of research and at most one year of course work. The position may be extended by up to one year if up to 20 % teaching assistance or administration is included in the contract. The PhD student is employed (“doktorandanställning”) during the studies, with a monthly salary starting at SEK 29 700.

Qualification requirements
In order to meet the general entry requirements, the applicant must have completed a second-cycle degree, completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

In order to be accepted as a PhD student in Physics or Theoretical Physics a BSc in Physics (or equivalent) is required. The studies must include 60 credits of second-cycle courses in physics out of which at least 15 credits correspond to a second-cycle degree project. The degree project does not have to have been examined at the application deadline, but work corresponding to half a semester of full-time studies should have been devoted to it. For the subject Chemical Physics courses in chemistry may replace the required physics courses. The subject Medical Radiation Physics requires a second-cycle degree project of 30 credits in the subject area, or with 60 credits of physics, a second-cycle degree project of 30 credits in another subject area.

In addition, proficiency in English language, equivalent to English B in Swedish high school, is required, or

The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

Selection
The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The successful applicant will be selected based on documented theoretical and experimental knowledge relevant for the area of study, knowledge of scientific theory and method, analytical skills, personal motivation and team working skills. Well-developed English language skills are required. The applicants are encouraged to provide supporting documents that substantiate qualifications, e.g., knowledge, skills, abilities and experience.

References and interviews will be used to assess qualifications of the applicants. We seek a self-motivated candidate with good analytical abilities and skilled in English.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University are available at: www.su.se/rules and regulations.

Terms of employment
Only a person who will be or has already been admitted to a third-cycle programme may be appointed to a doctoral studentship.

The term of the initial contract may not exceed one year. The employment may be extended for a maximum of two years at a time. However, the total period of employment may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study.

Doctoral students should primarily devote themselves to their own education, but may engage in teaching, research, and administration corresponding to a maximum of 20 % of a full-time position.

Please note that admission decisions cannot be appealed.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
For more information about the project, please contact Marta Lazzeroni, marta.lazzeroni@fysik.su.se.

For information about the employment Prof. Michael Odelius, odelius@fysik.su.se.

For questions to the PhD student council at Fysikum. Point of contact: phdcouncil@fysik.su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, seko@seko.su.se (SEKO), and PhD student representative, doktorandombud@sus.se.

Application
Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

and, in addition, please include the following documents

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

 

Closing date: 23/04/2024