PhD towards In Vivo imaging of vulnerable carotid plaques using PhotoAcoustics

Functieomschrijving

• Are you inspired by health care challenges?
• Are you eager to work on new, cutting-edge, technological developments in the area of medical optics and ultrasound, and bring them to the clinic?
• Are you our next PhD-candidate in novel and advanced photoacoustic imaging for diagnostics and monitoring of cardiovascular disease?

Job Description

Understanding carotid plaque composition is crucial in clinical settings because specific plaque features are directly linked to the risk of plaque rupture and subsequent stroke. Unlike traditional ultrasound or MRI, Photoacoustic Imaging (PAI) combines optical contrast with ultrasound detection, providing high-resolution, molecular-specific imaging. As a result, PAI can distinguish between different tissue types within the carotid plaque, and has great potential to enable more accurate stroke risk evaluation and personalized treatment strategies.

The candidate will work on the development of an innovative photoacoustic (PA) imaging system based on multiple capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) for clinical diagnosis and monitoring of vulnerable carotid plaques and improve clinical decision-making by assessing plaque morphology and structure. The candidate will build new advanced algorithms for image formation (beamforming, multi-perspective imaging compounding, clutter reduction, fluency correction) and multispectral plaque characterization (incl. spectral unmixing and/or deep learning based classification methods), and perform experimental verification on excised plaque samples, followed by a clinical pilot in collaboration with the Catharina Hospital Eindhoven.

The position is offered by the Photoacoustics & Ultrasound Lab Eindhoven (PULS/e) in the Department of Biomedical Engineering under the supervision of dr.ir. M. Wu (PI on photoacoustics), prof.dr.ir. R.G.P. Lopata (head of PULS/e group) and prof.dr. M.R.H.M. van Sambeek (vascular surgeon at the Catharina Ziekenhuis Eindhoven and part-time professor at TUE). The PULS/e group consists of a multi-disciplinary and international team of researchers that work on novel imaging US techniques, photoacoustics, image reconstruction, functional imaging, and model-based image analysis. Within this project you will be closely collaborating with Philips and the Catharina Hospital Eindhoven. Next to the research described above, you will supervise MSc / BSc students that will work on projects within the scope of your own.

Functie-eisen

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering
• Affinity with medical imaging (photoacoustics, ultrasound), optics, or a comparable domain
• Experience with programming, image processing (+ imaging physics, spectral analysis), and imaging system hardware design. Instrument control will be considered as a relevant additional skill.
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interested in collaborating with industrial partners.
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).
• Good presentation skills required to present your work for a scientific audience.

Arbeidsvoorwaarden

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,901 max. €3,707).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

Informatie en sollicitatie

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow. 

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more?
Please contact the hiring manager Richard Lopata, Full Professor, r.lopata@tue.nl, +31 40 247 4878 or  Min Wu, Assistant Professor, m.wu@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact Sascha Sanchez van Oort, HR advisor, s.j.m.g.sanchez.van.oort@tue.nl.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.