PhD candidate 'Development of an integrated system for breast cancer imaging | focus point ultrasound'

Werkenbijradboudumc; Nijmegen; On-site; EUR 33,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Werkenbijradboudumc is seeking a PhD candidate to advance integrated breast imaging by combining 3D ultrasound with tomosynthesis. You will develop methods using an ultra-wide ultrasound transducer mounted for tomosynthesis data, enabling joint image improvement with X-ray data.

Work will be conducted in Nijmegen at Radboud University Medical Center with collaboration from the AXTI lab, and you will present findings at international conferences and prepare scientific papers.

Qualifications

• MSc degree in physics, mathematics, engineering, Technical medicine, or similar.
• Experience or interest in physics modeling, inverse problems, and/or image processing, and affinity with biomedical research.
• Programming in python, C/C++, Matlab, or similar.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate methods for 3D ultrasound and tomosynthesis integration using phantoms and, where possible, clinical data.
• Collaborate with AXTI lab on X-ray aspects and translate methods to a clinical evaluation setting.
• Present results at international conferences and publish papers on the developed methods and study results.

Skills

Python programming

C/C++

Matlab

English communication

Education

MSc degree in physics, mathematics, engineering, Technical medicine, or similar

Job description

Job description

Ultrasound and tomosynthesis are the most prevalent modalities used for breast imaging, and each has its specific advantages and disadvantages. Ultrasound uses sound waves to create a cross-sectional image of the tissue and has excellent depth resolution, but limited resolution in directions perpendicular to the transmitted ultrasound lines. Tomosynthesis uses x rays to create a pseudo-3D representation of the breast with high in-plane spatial resolution, but low out-of-plane (depth) resolution. Therefore, both techniques are complementary to each other.

We plan to develop a joint system that will use the information from each modality to improve the image quality of the other, yielding not only a multi-modality imaging system, but a joint imaging system. The combination of tomosynthesis and ultrasound into a single joint imaging system will yield improved images from two independent and complementary sources, with inherent spatial correlation, allowing for improved lesion detection, even in dense breasts, and the direct multi-modal assessment of suspicious lesions. For this multi-disciplinary project, we will be working in collaboration with the Advanced X-ray Tomography Imaging (AXTI) lab of our Department, who will be developing the X-ray aspects of this system (see accompanying vacancy).

In this project, you will focus on 3D ultrasound by using an ultra-wide ultrasound transducer that is mounted in a paddle required for acquisition of tomosynthesis data. In this way, a 3D ultrasound dataset can be acquired that can be used to improve the x-ray data by using the high-axial resolution US data. Additionally, the ultrasound data can be improved by using the high-resolution x-ray data. You will develop and validate these methods using both digital and physical phantoms, working towards first patient images at the end of the project. All of this will be in collaboration with a PhD student focusing on the x-ray aspects of the project, and industry partners to facilitate the translation of these methods into clinical evaluation. Tasks will also include presenting at international scientific conferences and writing papers on the newly developed methods and study results.

PhD candidate 'Development of an integrated system for breast cancer imaging | focus point X-ray

Place of work

Nijmegen and the Radboudumc

Nijmegen is the oldest Dutch city with a rich history and one of the liveliest city centers in the Netherlands. Radboud University has over 17,000 students. Radboud University Medical Center is a leading academic center for medical science, education, and health care with over 10,000 staff and 3,000 students.

Department of Medical Imaging

The Department of Medical Imaging is one of the most active research departments of the Radboudumc. More than 200 researchers are continuously striving to optimize healthcare. Close cooperation between preclinical researchers, radiologists, and clnicians gives a fantastic opportunity to implement new imaging techniques in clinical practice, and you will be working directly in this field.

Medical Ultrasound Imaging Center: MUSIC

MUSIC laboratory works on the development, optimization, and clinical evaluation of new ultrasound imaging methods. For that, MUSIC collaborates with major vendors of ultrasound equipment. The focus of MUSIC is on development of high end ultrasound solutions for improved diagnosis of breast cancer, carotid diseases, and liver steatosis. Additionally, AI-driven handheld ultrasound solutions are developed for improving diagnosis in low resource settings, and by general practitioners and doctors in child consultation centers. For this, the group has researchers with various backgrounds, from engineering to medical doctors, providing wide-ranging expertise in image reconstruction and processing, deep learning and other AI methods, and analysis, along with the design and performance of patient trials. The laboratory works closely with radiologists and industry.

Profile

Requirements

• You should be a creative and enthusiastic researcher with a MSc degree in physics, mathematics, engineering, Technical medicine, or similar.
• Experience or interest in physics modeling, inverse problems, and/or image processing, and affinity with biomedical research.
• Experience in programming in python, C/C++, Matlab, or similar.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

Good to know

• The first job interviews will take place on 2 November 2026. Please take this into account.
• All additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from Prof. Chris de Korte.
• This position requires a Certificate of Conduct (VOG).

We are recruiting for this position ourselves. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated, but do feel free to share the vacancy in your network!