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OFFER DEADLINE : 30/09/2022 23:59:00 – Europe/Brussels                                            ORGANISATION/COMPANY : Radboud University Medical Center
EU RESEARCH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME: HORIZON-MSCA-2021-DN-01-01      Department: Medical Imaging
LOCATION : Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Prof. Ioannis Sechopoulos and Dr. Marco Caballo, part of the Advanced X-ray Tomographic Imaging (AXTI) laboratory, established at the Department of Medical Imaging at Radboud University Medical Center (Nijmegen, the Netherlands), are interested in receiving Expressions of Interest of potential candidates for the Marie Sklodowska – Curie Doctorate Network (MSCA-DN-2021) call.

The title of the proposed project: Evolutionary quantification of breast density after surgery or radiotherapy for local recurrence detection.

The overarching goal of this project is directed to the detection of local recurrence (probability of relapse) through the quantitative changes perceived in breast density (fibrosis) after applying different radiotherapy techniques (hypofractionation or control mammography). Besides, we will investigate the correlation of such quantification as a potential measure to predict genetic susceptibility to adverse effects of radiotherapy using DNA samples from selected cases. This will be performed using the following steps: (1) Developing a DL model based on a conditional GAN to implement dense tissues segmentation in mammographic images (i.e., 2D mammography or pseudo-3D tomosynthesis). (2) Developing a multi-class CNN architecture for breast density classification using the resulted segmented masks based on BI-RADS standard (i.e., fatty, scattered fibroglandular, heterogeneously, and extremely). (3) Constructing a fully automatic method for breast density estimation. (4) Improving breast density estimation that might be achieved by using alternative breast imaging, such as MRI. (5) Studying the relationship between breast density, the genetic susceptibility to BC relapse and the effects of radiotherapy treatment. (6) a fully automatic follow-up of the quantification of breast density of multiple temporal mammograms for estimating the risk of the relapse.
For BosomShield, we are looking for a doctorate candidate who will:
  • collaborate with diverse teams of scientists and engineers to build an advanced system for BosomShield.
  • design and develop cutting edge methods based on brittle computer vision and machine learning algorithms.
  • help advance R&D by finding problems, implementing elegant solutions, and building tools that enable the team to move forward and to measure progress.
  • resent at international scientific conferences and write papers on newly developed methods and the study results.

We are looking for talented and innovative self-motivated young scientists, strongly committed to high quality frontier and multi-disciplinary research and able to add new insights to the existing Radboud University Medical Center core expertise.

University of Maribor (Univerza v Mariboru) is one of 5 universities included in U-Multirank for Slovenia. University of Maribor is a large public university located in Maribor with 13758 students enrolled (2019 data or latest available). It was founded in 1975. With regard to the scope of its subjects and degree programs offered, the University of Maribor is a comprehensive institution. It offers programmes in foreign languages. It is characterized by a high percentage of international students. The University of Maribor graduation rate is 53,38 for bachelors (C score) and 69,88 for masters (C score). As made clear by its sunburst chart – a snapshot illustration of the University’s performance profile across the five U-Multirank dimensions – the University of Maribor is strongest in Research. Its overall profile shows top performance across various indicators, with 6 ‘A’ (very good) scores overall. At the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Maribor (UM FERI) we create knowledge based on the results of internationally recognized scientific research work, and we pass it on to students and society. Our vision to consolidate the position of an internationally-recognized university educational and research institution within the fields of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Informatics, Media Communications, Telecommunications and Mechatronics, throughout Central Europe, which is high quality and attractive to students, and addresses the challenges of society and the economy in Slovenia and abroad. The values we pursue the most are: Academic responsibility, The quality of teaching, scientific research, and development work, High ethical standards, Social responsibility and sustainable development.

Radboud University Medical Center as Hosting Institution located Nijmegen, the Netherlands, has all the technical and scientific facilities to carry out this project.

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 cardiologists 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 is focused 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 methods and reconstruction and processing, including artificial intelligence algorithms, and to evaluate the clinical performance of new technology in new clinical applications. The group counts 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.

More information can be found on our website: http://axti.radboudimaging.nl/index.php/Home.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
At the attempted deadline for the submission of the proposals (30/09/2022):
  • Early Stage Researcher:
    • • Knowledge of deep learning concepts and experience with deep learning environments (eg.: TensorFlow, PyTorch, etc).
    • Excellent practical software engineering ability, particularly Python and C/C++.
    • Knowledge of medical image analysis and working with image data.
    • Master’s degree in medical physics, biomedical engineering, computer science, physics, or similar.
    • Collaborative spirit.
  • Nationality: Any.
  • Mobility: The researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the deadline for submission of proposals (a relaxed rule for Career restarting and Reintegration).
  • Must be fluent in English (both written and spoken).

SELECTION PROCESS
Researchers willing to apply should check that they fulfil the eligibility criteria and then send an expression of interest, consisting of:
  • Scanned copy of identity card, resident's card or passport currently in force.
  • Curriculum Vitae (Any research career gaps and/or unconventional paths should be clearly explained so that this can be fairly assessed by the evaluators; if you are a forcibly displaced researcher, please explain your situation in the CV; if you have been residing in Country in the last 3 years please provide the exact duration and motives of your stay and be prepared to provide the documentation proving it during the redress phase if required by the Project Manager). We strongly recommend you to use the Europass CV template.
  • Scanned copy of the certificate of the official academic qualification or proof of payment of the fees for the issuance of the certificate that allows the holder to access the doctoral studies. Students who hold Master degrees should present the scanned copies of their master's degrees. Students who are registered in an official university master's course that allows them to access the doctoral programme during the 2021/2022 academic year must present a scanned copy of their master's course registration form.
  • Scanned copy of academic transcript of the qualification equivalent to a bachelor's degree.
  • Scanned copy of academic transcript of the master's degree. Candidates who have not completed their Master's degrees must send their provisional academic transcript*.
  • Two signed and scanned reference letters. We will not contact the referees on your behalf.
  • A motivation letter, explaining his expertise and how the candidate is suited for the position she/he applies for.
HOW TO APPLY
  • Expressions of interest must be submitted to your account through https://bosomshield.eu/.
  • Researchers willing must apply to maximum two positions of the aforementioned 10 positions.
  • DCs will be pre-selected on the basis of internal evaluation.
  • Candidates will be informed of the results of the pre-selection two weeks after the deadline.
  • Interview between the highest ranked candidates of the pre-selection will be organed by the supervisors to select the final candidate.
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