About the position

We have a vacancy for a 100% position as PhD candidate on the project Imaging Vascular Damage from Radiation-Induced Oxidative Stress funded by NTNU’s Enabling Technologies. NTNU’s Enabling Technologies include NTNU Biotechnology, NTNU Digital and NTNU Nano and aims at development of new products and new industries, and to contribute to new solutions that may be employed in the society. This PhD position is related to NTNU Biotechnology. The appointment has a duration of 4 years, including 1 year (25%) teaching duties.

The objective of the PhD project is to use multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) to quantify normal tissue damage from radiotherapy. Investigations will be performed in experimental in vivo models and in patient material from head and neck cancer. We believe that quantifying and understanding how ionizing radiation impairs the vasculature and promotes normal tissue damage is important in order to apply therapeutic interventions to reduce damage and minimize side-effects, ultimately improving quality of life for cancer survivors.

The position is affiliated with the research group in Medical Radiation Physics at the Department of Physics, NTNU  in close collaboration with St. Olavs hospital as well as national and international partners. We have access to excellent laboratory and imaging infrastructure to pursue this research project, including hybrid PET/MRI scanners for both experimental models and patients.

The position is organized in the Department of Physics. Our research spans a broad spectrum of natural sciences and technology. The Department is currently expanding and has activity in astroparticle physics, solid state physics, material physics, soft and complex matter physics, biopolymer physics, medical physics, statistical physics, optics, atmospheric physics and university didactics. The Department recruits the best physics students in Norway and also offers a large number of courses in physics for other study programmes at NTNU. Research staff at the Department makes a special effort to increase the awareness and understanding of the importance and impact of physics in our society. Further information about the Department can be found here.

Duties of the position

The PhD candidate will work in the multidisciplinary field of medical imaging and radiotherapy of cancer and will join a research group working with quantitative and functional MRI and PET, advanced image analysis, different applications of machine learning and how to use image information in further developments within image-guided adaptive radiotherapy. The group works with both experimental models and patient data.

The main tasks will be advanced, quantitative analysis of MRI and PET images from both experimental models and cancer patients, Monte Carlo simulations and radiotherapy dose planning. In addition, the project will include laboratory work with in vivo experimental models.

The PhD candidate will become an important member in an expanding research group in the multidisciplinary field of medical imaging and radiotherapy in cancer treatment, and the candidate’s personal and communicative skills will therefore be emphasized. The main workplace is at Department of Physics, NTNU, but the project involves collaboration with different disciplines (oncology, radiology, nuclear medicine) at St. Olavs Hospital as well as national and international partners.

The candidate will work in an active multidisciplinary research environment with high scientific standards. We are offering training, continuous supervision and opportunities for participation at national and international courses and congresses.

Detailed information on our PhD programmes can be found here.

Required selection criteria

• A university degree (Master of Science or equivalent) in physics, primarily with specialization in biophysics, medical physics or radiation physics. Candidates expecting to complete their Master of Science before August 1, 2022 may also apply.
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are obtained at master's level 
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master's degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis.  
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program. 
• Fluent English language, both written and spoken 
• Research experience within radiotherapy
• Research experience within advanced quantitative image analysis of PET and/or MRI
• Research experience with Monte Carlo simulations
• Strong skills in programming in Python

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant  

Preferred selection criteria

• Practical experience with molecular biology methods (microscopes, cell culture, transfection)
• FELASA category C certificate in animal laboratory science
• Strong skills in statistical/radiobiological modelling
• Previous oral presentations of research at scientific meetings
• Scientific papers in international peer-review journals in related fields
• Fluent Scandinavian language (due to interaction with students and various personnel at the hospital)

Personal characteristics

Excellent personal and communicative skills; the project will require ability to both work independently and to interact with other PhD candidates, students, experienced scientists, medical physicists as well as medical doctors from different specialties (e.g., oncologists, radiologists)

Strong motivation, scientific creativity and enthusiasm for research, high working and implementation capacity.

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 491 200 per annum before tax. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 4 years,including 1 year (25%) teaching duties.It is expected that the selected candidate can start in the position within November 2022.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in biophysics within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

It is a prerequisite that you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above. 

The application must include: 

• CV, certificates and diplomas 
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not completed the master's degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted. 
• A copy of the master's thesis. If you recently have submitted your master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master's degree must be presented before taking up the position. 
• Name and address of three referees 
• If you have publications or other relevant research work 

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor's and master's education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

In accordance with The Public Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants.

Questions about the position can be directed to Professor Kathrine Røe Redalen (kathrine.redalen@ntnu.no), Department of Physics, NTNU.

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI).

If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. Please refer to the application number 190/22 when applying.

Application deadline: 01.06.22

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Physics

Our research and teaching are both experimental and theoretical, covering a wide range of disciplines. Our activities contribute to development of new medical technology and to finding solutions for the next generation’s communication technology, energy utilization and development of materials. The Department of Physics is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

Deadline 1st June 2022
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Fixed Term
Place of service