Are you interested in new machine learning methods to analyze medical imaging data and improve treatment planning? Do you thrive in multi-disciplinary environments and do you want to contribute to establishing a new brain therapy? Are you eager to work in a dynamic multi-national research project where your results have immediate relevance for your project partners? If yes, you should send us your application.
Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS) is an emerging method to non-invasively stimulate the human brain. It has a number of unique properties, in particular it enables a highly focused and steerable stimulation also of deeply hidden brain areas. It promises to open up fully novel prospects for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases. The EiC pathfinder project CITRUS aims to break down technical barriers and establish TUS together with magnetic resonance imaging for the precise and personalized neurostimulation.
Controlling and planning the stimulation dose – the strength and spatial distribution of the ultrasound stimulation pattern in the brain - is central to ensure that the waves have the desired effects on brain physiology while being safe. Your role in the CITRUS project will be to contribute new methods to derive personalized dosing models from the patients’ MR data.
Your tasks:
- Develop a new approach to estimate individual acoustic tissue properties from magnetic resonance images, based on high-quality magnetic resonance and computed tomography image datasets.
- Support colleagues at DRCMR and within CITRUS in establishing optimized imaging procedures.
- Collaborate with colleagues at DRCMR and within CITRUS to integrate your approach in the practical planning of TUS experiments.
- Engage in knowledge dissemination and publication of results in international, recognized scientific journals.
Your profile:
You should be a motivated international-minded team player and have:
- A PhD degree in Computer Science, Medical Imaging, Biomedical Engineering or corresponding qualifications
- Strong experience in analyzing medical imaging data, in particular MRI and/or CT
- Be familiar with machine learning and numerical frameworks in Python
- Strong coding skills
- Fluency in English writing and scientific communication
- Independent working and thinking but also integrate with and contribute to the research team and larger project.
About us
The project will be carried out at the Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR) which is a leading research centre for biomedical MRI in Europe (www.drcmr.dk). Our mission is to triangulate MR physics and basic physiology from preclinical to clinical research. Approximately 75 researchers from a diverse range of disciplines are currently pursuing basic and clinically applied MR research and its validation with a focus on structural, functional, and metabolic MRI of the human brain and its disorders. The DRCMR is embedded in the Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, a large diagnostic imaging department including all biomedical imaging modalities at the Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre.
The DRCMR has a state-of-the-art research infrastructure for human medical imaging, which includes six whole-body MR scanners (one 7T, three 3T and two 1.5T scanners), clinical CT scanners, a High-Performance Computer cluster and several state-of-the-art laboratories for non-invasive brain stimulation.
The Neurophysics group is a cross-disciplinary research team that works both at DRCMR and at the Technical University of Denmark. This setting gives us unique opportunities to translate cutting-edge methodological research into relevant and novel biomedical applications. Our vision is to transform transcranial brain stimulation into effective medical treatments. Personalization based on medical imaging data plays a key role in that endeavor.
Your position
The candidate will be employed for a postdoc period of 24 months at the Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance where he/she will be part of the Neurophysics Group (www.drcmr.dk/neurophysics) led by Professor Axel Thielscher.
Salary and Terms of Employment
Salary, pension and terms of employment are by the agreement between the Danish Regions (Danske Regioner) and the relevant professional organization. The salary depends on background education and seniority. Further, supplements can be negotiated. Note that candidates coming from abroad may be eligible for tax reductions. The position is open for candidates of all nationalities. We expect you to start on December 1st, 2022 or soon thereafter.
We see diversity as a strength and encourage all persons regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, disabilities or religion to apply.
Applications should include a cover letter, CV and list of publications together with the names of three references. Applications must be submitted online through the RegionH job portal - click HERE.
Application deadline: September 30, 2022 at 23:59 CET
For further information regarding the position please contact Professor Axel Thielscher