AI-informed adaptive mid-field MRI for personalized treatment of depression- NL

Amsterdam UMC; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8.3% end-of-year bonus

Public transport reimbursement

Bike scheme

BeFrank pension

Job summary

Amsterdam UMC seeks a postdoctoral researcher to develop an AI pipeline predicting antidepressant response from mid-field MRI perfusion and mood data. You will test the approach in a pilot MRI study and work toward precision psychiatry in clinical care.

You will adapt models on data from a large trial, translate methods into an adaptive MRI strategy run on the scanner, and collaborate with academia and industry partners in the PRESS consortium.

Qualifications

• PhD in AI, CS, biomedical engineering, physics, computational neuroscience or closely related field.
• Strong programming skills in Python, PyTorch or TensorFlow; experience with modern ML workflows.
• Interest in MRI, neuroimaging and translational AI in medicine; excellent English; ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary environment.

Responsibilities

• Adapt existing predictive models to explore mid-field perfusion MRI for antidepressant outcomes.
• Develop an AI-based prediction pipeline combining MRI perfusion measurements with clinical and digital data.
• Implement and test adaptive mid-field MRI acquisition strategies on the scanner; deploy prototype models.
• Design and conduct a pilot MRI study in healthy volunteers; publish findings and contribute to PRESS platform.

Skills

Programming

ML workflows

Education

PhD in AI/CS/engineering/physics/computational neuroscience

Tools

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

We are seeking a postdoc for 12 months to develop an AI pipeline predicting antidepressant response from mid-field MRI perfusion and digital mood and symptom data. You will test the approach in a pilot MRI study, working towards making precision psychiatry accessible in clinical care.

About The Project

Depression affects many people, but antidepressant treatment does not work equally well for everyone. Predicting treatment outcomes early could help clinicians make more informed decisions and tailor treatment to individual patients.

In this postdoc project, you will investigate how adaptive, AI-informed mid-field MRI, guided by questionnaire data, can provide clinically useful biomarkers for predicting antidepressant treatment outcomes. By combining artificial intelligence, brain imaging and digital mood and symptom data, you will work towards a more affordable and widely accessible approach to precision psychiatry.

You Will Focus On Three Main Areas

• Exploring how adaptive mid-field MRI can reduce scan time and improve prediction performance compared with fixed scanning protocols, while remaining feasible in outpatient clinics and settings with limited resources.
• Designing an MRI-based prediction pipeline using perfusion measurements from relevant brain regions, acquired with arterial spin labelling (ASL).
• Developing adaptive MRI acquisition methods in which AI models, including reinforcement learning, determine what to scan next based on the information already collected.

About The Role

You will build on data from a large randomized clinical trial on treatment outcomes in major depressive disorder. Using these data, you will adapt existing prediction models and investigate whether mid-field perfusion MRI can support the early prediction of antidepressant treatment outcomes.

You will develop an end-to-end prediction pipeline and translate your methods into an adaptive MRI strategy that can run directly on the scanner. You will also design and conduct a pilot MRI study in healthy volunteers, testing a prototype model deployed on the scanner.

Responsibilities

In addition, you will share your findings with the scientific community and contribute to the further development of the PRESS platform in collaboration with consortium partners from academia and industry. Your responsibilities include:

• Adapting existing predictive models to explore the feasibility of mid-field perfusion MRI for predicting antidepressant treatment outcomes.
• Developing an AI-based prediction pipeline that combines MRI perfusion measurements with relevant clinical and digital data.
• Implementing and testing adaptive mid-field MRI acquisition strategies, including a prototype model deployed on the scanner.
• Designing and conducting a pilot MRI study in healthy volunteers.
• Writing scientific papers, presenting your findings at international conferences and contributing to the integration of your methods into the PRESS platform.

Profile

You have a PhD in artificial intelligence, computer science, (biomedical) engineering, physics, computational neuroscience, technical medicine or a closely related field. You enjoy developing new technical approaches and applying them to clinically relevant challenges.

In Addition, You Bring

• Strong programming skills, for example in Python, PyTorch or TensorFlow, and experience with modern machine learning workflows.
• An affinity with, and preferably experience in, one or more of the following areas: MRI or other medical imaging, reinforcement learning or sequential decision-making algorithms, and clinical prediction modelling or health data science. Experience with perfusion imaging or ASL is an advantage.
• A clear interest in mental health, neuroimaging and translational research at the intersection of AI and medicine.
• Excellent written and spoken English, good communication skills and the ability to work independently and proactively in a multidisciplinary research environment.

Our offer

• You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV.
• A contract for 12 months.
• Classification in salary scale 10: € 3.724 to € 5.867 gross for full-time employment (depending on experience). In addition to a good basic salary, we offer 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Calculate your net salary here (https://www.vismaraet.nl/bruto-netto-salaris-berekenen/).
• Holiday hours: 194.4 per year for full time and a possibility to save additional hours.
• 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs. If you travel by foot, bicycle, or car, a mileage allowance of €0.21 per km applies (up to a maximum of 40 km one way by car).
• Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme.
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension.

Watch this video (https://youtu.be/QO6mgb9R-sI) with more information about joining Amsterdam UMC Research BV.

About The Workplace

You will work at Amsterdam UMC in a multidisciplinary research environment involving the departments of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering & Physics. You will collaborate with clinical experts, imaging physics scientists and AI researchers to develop innovative MRI methods and translate them into meaningful outcomes for patients with depression.

You will also work closely with industry partners in the PRESS consortium. These partners develop the digital platform and mid-field MRI enhancement technology that support the implementation of your methods. Together, you will explore how adaptive MRI and AI can contribute to more accessible healthcare, including in community-based and resource-limited settings.

This position offers the opportunity to bring AI research from technical development to practical application in precision psychiatry. You will work at the interface of engineering, clinical research and industry, contributing to methods that could help make personalized depression treatment more widely accessible.

Amsterdam UMC Research BV

Amsterdam UMC Research BV supports non-profit scientific research. In doing so, we provide researchers with everything they need to excel. Our principal investigators (PIs) and project leaders offer support in the field of project management, finance and human resources. In medical scientific research projects, legal support is also provided.

Watch the video to find out more.

Let's meet

The first round of interviews is expected to take place during the first two weeks of December. Please keep this in mind when planning your availability. The second round will follow shortly after the first.

During the publication period, applications will be handled continuously. If the vacancy is filled, it will be closed prematurely.

Do you have any questions? For further information about this position, please contact Prof. Liesbeth Reneman, at [e-mail] or Matthan Caan, PhD, at [e-mail].

A reference check, screening and hiring assessment may be part of the procedure. Read here (https://werkenbij.amsterdamumc.org/nl/algemeen/medewerkerscreening) whether that applies to you. If you join us, we ask you for a VOG (Certificate of Good Conduct).

Internal candidates will be given priority over external candidates in case of equal suitability.

Acquisition in response to this vacancy will not be considered.