PhD Position Personalized Medicine Within a Project Optimizing Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment

Updated: over 1 year ago
Deadline: 06 Dec 2022

Join our team that combines medical knowledge, predictive modelling, and game-theory to help patients with non-small cell lung cancer!   

Within the Dutch Research Council project "ANTICANCER: Game theory empowered by data science and control theory to improve treatment of metastatic cancer" we are looking for PhD candidates to join our team focusing on our understanding and treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. 

This PhD position is aimed at candidates with a MSc degree in (technical) medicine or biomedical engineering and interest in oncology and data-driven personalised oncologic treatment. The successful candidate will be employed by Delft University of Technology, under supervision of Katerina Stankova and Irene Grossmann, but will spend up to half of their time at Erasmus Medical Center (supervised by Anne-Marie Dingemans , Jan von der Thusen ), and will collaborate with Maastricht University Medical Center (Dirk de Ruysscher , Lizza Hendriks , Alberto Traverso ) as well.  Spending up to half of their time at Erasmus Medical Center, they will learn how patients with non-small cell lung cancer are treated, what type of observations/data play a role in the diagnostics and treatment process, and what type of data may help us improve diagnostics/personalised care. In collaboration with other 2 PhD candidates within this VIDI project, who will focus on data-driven predictive modelling and game theory, you will investigate whether alternative timing and dosing of treatment may be beneficial for some patients. The PhD candidate will be involved in collecting retrospective data in the participating hospitals.

While this project targets candidates with medical background, they will also collaborate with a team of mathematicians, cancer biologists and clinicians from different universities and medical centres, as the outcomes of this project should improve standard of care of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Therefore, the candidate's ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and interest in other scientific domains involved in this project are necessary for success of this project. 

Required:

  • MSc degree in (technical) medicine or biomedical engineering;
  • strong interest in oncology and personalised healthcare;
  • ability to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary team;
  • excellent command of English.

Desirable:

  • excellent command of Dutch;
  • interest in game theory and/or data-driven simulation;
  • existing knowledge about non-small cell lung cancer;
  • knowledge or experience with medical file data collection.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact dr. Katerina Stankova, [email protected] , dr. Irene Grossmann [email protected] ,  and/or  Anne-Marie Dingemans [email protected] .

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 6 December 2022 via the application button and upload the following documents:

  • your CV;
  • motivation letter;
  • official list of all courses followed during your BSc and MSc studies with grades;
  • your MSc thesis;
  • names and contact details of 2 references who may be contacted at a later stage in the procedure.

Most suitable candidates will be invited for one or more online interviews in December 2022. This position is intended to start in early 2023. 

Please note:

  • A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
  • You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
  • Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

For information about the application procedure, please contact Olivie Beek, HR-advisor, e-mail: [email protected] ,


Join our team that combines medical knowledge, predictive modelling, and game-theory to help patients with non-small cell lung cancer!   

Within the Dutch Research Council project "ANTICANCER: Game theory empowered by data science and control theory to improve treatment of metastatic cancer" we are looking for PhD candidates to join our team focusing on our understanding and treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. 

This PhD position is aimed at candidates with a MSc degree in (technical) medicine or biomedical engineering and interest in oncology and data-driven personalised oncologic treatment. The successful candidate will be employed by Delft University of Technology, under supervision of Katerina Stankova and Irene Grossmann, but will spend up to half of their time at Erasmus Medical Center (supervised by Anne-Marie Dingemans , Jan von der Thusen ), and will collaborate with Maastricht University Medical Center (Dirk de Ruysscher , Lizza Hendriks , Alberto Traverso ) as well.  Spending up to half of their time at Erasmus Medical Center, they will learn how patients with non-small cell lung cancer are treated, what type of observations/data play a role in the diagnostics and treatment process, and what type of data may help us improve diagnostics/personalised care. In collaboration with other 2 PhD candidates within this VIDI project, who will focus on data-driven predictive modelling and game theory, you will investigate whether alternative timing and dosing of treatment may be beneficial for some patients. The PhD candidate will be involved in collecting retrospective data in the participating hospitals.

While this project targets candidates with medical background, they will also collaborate with a team of mathematicians, cancer biologists and clinicians from different universities and medical centres, as the outcomes of this project should improve standard of care of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Therefore, the candidate's ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and interest in other scientific domains involved in this project are necessary for success of this project. 

Required:

  • MSc degree in (technical) medicine or biomedical engineering;
  • strong interest in oncology and personalised healthcare;
  • ability to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary team;
  • excellent command of English.

Desirable:

  • excellent command of Dutch;
  • interest in game theory and/or data-driven simulation;
  • existing knowledge about non-small cell lung cancer;
  • knowledge or experience with medical file data collection.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact dr. Katerina Stankova, [email protected] , dr. Irene Grossmann [email protected] ,  and/or  Anne-Marie Dingemans [email protected] .

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 6 December 2022 via the application button and upload the following documents:

  • your CV;
  • motivation letter;
  • official list of all courses followed during your BSc and MSc studies with grades;
  • your MSc thesis;
  • names and contact details of 2 references who may be contacted at a later stage in the procedure.

Most suitable candidates will be invited for one or more online interviews in December 2022. This position is intended to start in early 2023. 

Please note:

  • A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
  • You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
  • Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

For information about the application procedure, please contact Olivie Beek, HR-advisor, e-mail: [email protected] ,



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