Postdoctoral Researcher / Postdoctoral Researcheress in Multi-Modal Surgical Scene Modeling and Simulation

The University of Zurich - Join Our Team

The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers an array of exciting positions across various subject areas and professional fields. With approximately 10,000 employees and twelve professional apprenticeship streams, we provide an inspiring working environment focused on cutting-edge research and top-tier education. Put your talents and skills to work with us and discover more about UZH as an employer!

Your Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of the postdoctoral researcher is to conduct original research at the intersection of medical imaging, computer vision, and simulation. This role involves refining research concepts in line with state-of-the-art and emerging ideas, supervising PhD students in implementing corresponding methodologies, and guiding them through validation and scientific publication. In addition to core research activities, the postdoctoral researcher is expected to support and supervise experimental data collection and validation in the ex-vivo environment of the OR-X.

• Supervising PhD students and collaboratively developing methods that advance the state-of-the-art in soft tissue simulation, multi-modal generative modelling, and digital twinning.
• Contributing to the development of new research concepts and methodologies in relevant fields.
• Designing experimental studies and advanced data-capture setups for acquiring high-quality surgical data in ex-vivo experiments.
• Collaborating with surgeons and engineers to ensure strong translational relevance.
• Disseminating results through scientific publications, patents, and prototype demonstrations.
• Actively participating in shaping and strengthening the group's research direction, methods, and best practices.

Your Profile

You hold an outstanding PhD degree in computer science, robotics, or electrical engineering, with a strong background in computer vision, machine learning, and computer graphics—preferably within the context of computer-assisted surgery. You possess experience with deep learning and simulation frameworks and bring hands-on expertise with hardware (e.g., cameras, tracking systems, audio capture devices, and augmented reality).

We are looking for candidates who demonstrate:

• Significant experience with computer vision, camera calibration, and tracking, along with proficiency in relevant libraries (e.g., OpenCV, Open3D).
• Familiarity with AI/ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) and medical image analysis libraries (Slicer3D, MONAI).
• A solid understanding of generative models and proven experience working with multimodal data (images, 3D data, natural language, audio).
• Experience with signal processing, especially in the audio domain, is a plus.
• Experience with haptic rendering and Augmented Reality is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills in English (German is an asset), along with initiative, problem-solving ability, and strong teamwork skills.

Application Process

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

Contact Information

For more information, please contact:

Joelle Kunz
Assistant
+41 44 510 73 66
Joinrocs@balgrist.ch