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

Join Our Team at the University of Zurich

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 12 professional apprenticeship streams, the University provides an inspiring work environment that fosters cutting-edge research and top-tier education. Put your talent 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 alignment with both 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 will also support and oversee experimental data collection and validation in the ex-vivo environment of the OR-X.

Particularly, your responsibilities will include:

• Supervising PhD students and collaboratively developing methods that advance the state-of-the-art in soft tissue simulation, multi-modal generative modeling, 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 contributing to shaping and strengthening the group's research direction, methods, and best practices.

Your Profile

We are seeking applications from candidates who hold an excellent PhD degree in computer science, robotics, or electrical engineering, ideally with a strong background in computer vision, machine learning, and computer graphics, particularly in the context of computer-assisted surgery. Candidates should possess experience with deep learning and simulation frameworks, as well as hands-on experience with hardware (e.g., cameras, tracking systems, audio capture devices, augmented reality).

Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

• Significant experience with computer vision, camera calibration, tracking, and 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 in 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 an advantage.
• Excellent communication skills in English (German is a plus), along with initiative, problem-solving abilities, and a collaborative spirit.

Application Process

If you meet the qualifications and are eager to contribute to our dynamic team, apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

For inquiries, you may contact:

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