PhD Position: Biophysical Modelling for Advanced qMRI Applications

1. Introduction

Do you want to make a real-world impact? Come and join our team to develop cutting-edge MRI techniques for decoding brain tissue properties. Collaborate with global experts and help create robust, clinically applicable solutions that transform how we measure the effects of neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory and neurovascular diseases and monitor their treatment.

2. Job description

The title of the funding project says it all: ’Quantitative Imaging that (white) Matters: taking biophysical modelling to clinical applications’. This research initiative aims to improve myelin water imaging (MWI) in the context of neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory and neurovascular diseases. You will lead the development and integration of neural network decoding strategies for Multi-Compartment Relaxometry (MCR) and Myelin Water Imaging (MWI) as a new tool for assessing brain tissue microstructure. The work will focus on enhancing computational efficiency, improving biomarker extraction, and expanding the biophysical models to merge myelin water imaging and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and include vascular tissue factors.

Your key responsibilities are:

• Develop and optimise neural network-based methods for MCR-MWI and Diffusion Informed MWI. 
• Collaborate with other team members to test and apply these models to data from different MRI systems and at three field strengths (1.5T, 3T, 7T). 
• Lead efforts to develop biomarkers beyond Myelin Water Fraction (MWF), incorporating QSM and new data related to tissue vascularisation and metabolic oxygen rates (CMRO2). 

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.

3. Profile

• You should have a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in physics, biomedical engineering, medical imaging, or a related field.
• You have experience with programming in MATLAB, Python or a similar environment. 
• You have strong analytical skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• You have excellent communication skills in English (both written and oral).  
• Preferably, you have a strong background in MRI physics and knowledge of Physics Informed Neural Networks. 

4. We are

We are the MR Structural Quantitative Imaging group, a dynamic and collaborative research team at the forefront of MRI technology. As a team, we create new methods to obtain MR images that have units, can be compared across sessions and subjects, and whose values can be interpreted in the light of the right biophysical model.

As part of our team, you will have access to mentorship from leading experts in the field, including José P. Marques, Martijn Cloos and Prof. David G. Norris (Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging).

Join us in pushing the boundaries of MRI technology and making a real impact on neurological healthcare.

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).     
• You will receive a starting salary of €2,901 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,707 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. 
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. 

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to José Marques. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The first interviews will take place on Friday 23 May. You will preferably start your employment as soon as possible.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates.