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

Radboudumc; Nijmegen; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Radboud University Medical Center is recruiting for a PhD candidate to develop an integrated imaging system that fuses tomosynthesis and ultrasound for breast imaging. You will preprocess x-ray data and perform joint reconstruction, validating with phantoms and collaborating with a PhD student and industry partners for clinical translation.

The role involves presenting at international conferences and publishing results, contributing to advancing multi-modal imaging technologies in a leading

Qualifications

• Creative and enthusiastic researcher with a MSc degree in physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, medical physics, or similar.
• Experience or interest in physics modeling, inverse problems, and/or image processing with biomedical research affinity.
• Experience programming in Python, C/C++, Matlab, or similar.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Develop an integrated system combining tomosynthesis and ultrasound data for improved imaging.
• Handle x-ray data preprocessing and joint reconstruction; validate with digital and physical phantoms.
• Collaborate with a PhD student focusing on ultrasound aspects and with industry partners for translation to clinical evaluation.
• Present results at international conferences and publish papers on the methods and study findings.

Skills

MSc in physics

Image processing

Inverse problems

English communication

Education

MSc in physics/related field

Tools

Python

C/C++

Matlab

Job description

Job description

Ultrasound and tomosynthesis are the most prevalent modalities used for breast imaging, and each has its specific advantages and disadvantages. 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. 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.

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 Medical UltraSound Imaging Center (MUSIC) lab of our Department, who will be developing the ultrasound aspects of this system (see accompanying vacancy).

In this project you will focus on the x-ray related data preprocessing and on the joint reconstruction itself. You will validate these 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 ultrasound 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 ultrasound'

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 100 researchers are continuously striving to optimize healthcare. Close cooperation between preclinical researchers, radiologists, and clinicians gives a fantastic opportunity to implement new imaging techniques in clinical practice, and you will be working directly in this field.

Advanced X-ray Tomographic Imaging laboratory

The AXTI laboratory works on the development, optimization, and clinical evaluation of new x-ray-based imaging methods. The lab focuses on the use of medical physics approaches to improve image acquisition, reconstruction, and processing methods, including artificial intelligence algorithms, and to evaluate the clinical performance of new technology in new clinical applications. The group counts on members with wide-ranging expertise in image processing, reconstruction, deep learning and other AI methods, and analysis, as well as radiation dosimetry, along with the design and performance of patient trials.

The laboratory works closely with radiologists and industry to develop new, clinically relevant, imaging methods and processes in x-ray-based imaging, especially in breast imaging and body CT, to have an impact in detection, diagnosis, and treatment of pathologies.

Profile

Requirements

• You should be a creative and enthusiastic researcher with a MSc degree in physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, medical physics, 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 Dr. Ioannis Sechopoulos.
• 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!

Over het bedrijf

Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where our research groups strive for innovative solutions that make impact on health and healthcare. We challenge the status quo to overcome current and future health challenges. Our goal is to shape the future of healthcare for generations to come. Our focus is on prevention, sustainability, and meaningful care, which we achieve through our in-depth understanding of disease mechanisms, clinical science, public health research, medical technology and data science. Our approach is centered on breakthroughs that can truly enhance personalized healthcare and public health.

At Radboudumc, a comprehensive range of research programs provide the compass for our research efforts. Each program has a clear goal, where collaboration within and outside our organization is highly valued. We integrate care, education and research in partnership with our patients to ensure that our research programs have significant impact on health and healthcare. We invite you to join us in our mission to create a healthy future for all.