Doctoral student in Medical Science - Tumor microvascular characterization with MRI

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Doctoral position in Medical Science

Project title: Probing microvascular characteristics in brain and head-neck tumors using MRI

The Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, is located at the Institute of Clinical Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages Doctoral studies | University of Gothenburg (gu.se)    

Duties   

The PhD education in Medical Science comprises carrying out a scientific project and completing at least 30 credits of courses at third-cycle level. The doctoral student must also write a scientific compilation thesis or monograph corresponding to at least 120 credits. For more information about third-cycle studies at Sahlgrenska Academy, see https://www.gu.se/en/sahlgrenska-akademin/doctoral-studies

Project: Assessment of tumor therapy response is predominantly based on size measurements even though such changes are relatively slow and do not allow for possible treatment adaptation. Probing functional and microstructural tumor characteristics can potentially allow for earlier therapy response assessments and improved tumor characterization prior to treatment. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides multiple potential techniques sensitive to such characteristics, but most of these techniques are still relatively unexplored and not used in clinical practice.

This project aims to advance MR-based imaging biomarkers, directly or indirectly related to tumor microvasculature, towards use in characterization of tumors in the brain and head-neck region and for assessment of radiotherapy response of these tumors. The work will focus on developing methods robust enough for clinical research and potentially clinical practice, with particular emphasis on the specific demands set by the radiation therapy workflow for brain and head-neck cancer patients. The project will revolve around MR-based techniques designed for probing microvascular function and vascular microstructure. Initial studies will focus on development and optimization of MR-based imaging techniques with evaluation mainly based on computer simulations and healthy subjects. Successfully optimized techniques will be translated to a clinical setting and their potential for tumor characterization and/or therapy response assessment will be evaluated in patient cohorts with tumors in the brain or head-neck region. The work will encompass both practical tasks close to the MR scanner, including interaction with staff and patients, as well as data processing and theoretical work related to modelling.  

Documented experience of working with MR images for optimization of image acquisition, practical MR scanning, preprocessing and analysis is of merit. It is expected that the applicant will be able work both individually and in groups since the position requires cooperation with colleagues. The applicant should possess good knowledge of writing and speech in both Swedish and English. Good programming knowledge of e.g., Matlab and/or Python is of merit.

Education at third-cycle level comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree.  As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.    

Eligibility   

Education at third-cycle level requires general eligibility and specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.  

The general eligibility requirements for education at third-cycle level are:    
1. having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
2. the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or  
3. the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad.  
 
Specific entry requirements for this subject, according to the general syllabus, are: 
having completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies. 

Assessment criteria   

The selection of applicants who are considered to have the ability required to benefit from the study programme and who meet the general and specific eligibility requirements are assessed based on the following documented qualifications:
- specific knowledge and skills within the subject area and related research fields
- experience of scientific theory and relevant research methodology
- scientific analysis and presentation verified through thesis, degree project, scientific journals or the like. 

Employment   

Once you have been admitted for education at third-cycle level, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg. The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100. Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time. A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at third-cycle level for four years.   

Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Department of Medical Radiation Sciences. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed.

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.   

Contact information 

For more information about the project please contact the principal supervisor,
Oscar Jalnefjord, Institute of Clinical Sciences,
e-mail: oscar.jalnefjord@gu.se 

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:   
https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande     

Application   

You can apply to be admitted for education at third-cycle level via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.   

You must include the following, in pdf format

• Personal letter
• CV
• Diploma and transcripts showing that you meet with the general entry requirement
• Proof of completion of English 6 course or the acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies

If your degree is from a university outside of Sweden, make sure that you attach a diploma and full transcripts that makes assessing your degree easier.  

If your degree has not been verified by a Swedish authority you need to provide contact details to the issuing university, registrar or similar, that can verify the degree at our request.

For information on what you need to submit in order to fulfill the English language requirement see https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/

  

Applications must be received by: 2024-05-08

 

 

Information for International Applicants 

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit: 

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services 
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/ 

  

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.