PhD Position in Medical Imaging and Image Reconstruction for Near-Infrared Optical Tomography of the Head of Newborns (Male / Female)

Join the University of Zurich

The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a wide range of attractive positions across various subject areas and professional fields. With approximately 10,000 employees and 12 professional apprenticeship streams, the University provides an inspiring work environment focused on cutting-edge research and top-notch education. Put your talent and skills to work with us. Explore more about UZH as an employer!

Your Responsibilities

As a PhD Student at BORL, you will join a dynamic team tasked with developing an imager based on near-infrared optical tomography (NIROT). This innovative technology aims to non-invasively image brain oxygenation in both preterm and term neonates. These delicate patients often struggle to regulate their oxygen levels adequately, which can lead to brain lesions and long-term disabilities. By creating an instrument to visualize brain oxygenation, we hope to facilitate preventive treatments for these serious complications. Additionally, this instrument will be relevant for numerous other tissues and patient categories.

Your work will emphasize the development of advanced image reconstruction algorithms for the NIROT system, enabling precise and quantitative imaging of brain oxygenation within an intensive care clinical setting. Responsibilities will include:

• Implementing forward models (e.g., diffusion equation)
• Developing inverse solvers (e.g., various optimization algorithms and machine learning approaches)
• Conducting validation on phantoms and clinical data from volunteers and patients
• Integrating data from collaborative projects

Detailed documentation and manuals will need to be prepared in English, as this project is funded by a grant from SNF and operates in collaboration with the EPFL.

Your Profile

We seek a PhD candidate who holds a master's degree in applied mathematics, physics, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, computational science, or a related field, with a keen interest in solving inverse problems and image reconstruction for diffuse optical tomography. Key skills include:

• Proficiency in numerical methods (finite element/discrete ordinate methods, iterative solvers, regularization techniques)
• Experience in Python/MATLAB implementation (including machine learning frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow for data-driven reconstruction)
• Familiarity with time-resolved optical data, mathematical modeling of light propagation (diffusion equation, Monte Carlo simulations), and validation on phantoms/clinical datasets

Language requirements include fluent English, with proficiency in German being a plus. We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our team.

Application Process

Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Contact Information

Dr. Alexander Kalyanov
alexander.kalyanov@uzh.ch