PhD position in Biophysics/Medical Physics

12 Jan 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Department

Department of Physics

Research Field

Physics » Biophysics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Norway

Application Deadline

7 Feb 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Oslo)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

37,5

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description
This is NTNU

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

About the job

We have a vacancy for a highly motivated PhD candidate on the project IMPROTOX – Imaging normal tissue toxicity from proton therapy funded by Helse Midt-Norge (Central Norway Regional Health Authority). The appointment will be a 100% position for 3 years.

The objective of the PhD project is to investigate mechanisms of normal tissue damage (side-effects) from proton therapy of head and neck cancer, with a particular focus on the damages to mandibular bone. Damage to the mandibular bone from conventional radiotherapy with photons is a side-effect which severely affects quality of life for survivors of head and neck cancer. Proton therapy will be available in Norway from end of 2024 and besides the new treatment modality for cancer patients, this will also provide new, unique facilities for experimental research.

In the PhD project, investigations with protons will be done in different in vitro and in vivo experimental models such as cell cultures, spheroids and xenograft models, and results will be compared to experiments using x-rays/photons. The project will include working with a range of experimental techniques, such as, immunological assays, advanced microscopy, flow cytometry and radiobiological assays. Radiation experiments will be performed locally as well as at the proton therapy facility in Oslo or at international facilities.

The PhD candidate will work together with other PhD candidates and researchers who investigates how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) may quantify both tumor response and normal tissue damage from radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients. Quantifying and understanding how ionizing radiation 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 and collaborate with other national and international research groups.

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 at https://www.ntnu.edu/physics 

Duties of the position

The main tasks will be to work with in vitro and in vivo experimental models (cell culture, spheroids, xenograft models) to study the effects of ionizing radiation on bone cells. This will include techniques such as advanced microscopy, immunological assays, flow cytometry and radiobiological assays, and conducting radiation experiments locally as well as at the proton therapy facility in Oslo or at international facilities.

The PhD candidate will become an important member in an expanding research group, 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 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.

Required selection criteria

• A Master of Science (or equivalent) degree in physics, primarily with specialization in biophysics, medical physics or radiation physics, or in bionanotechnology. Candidates expecting to complete their Master of Science before August 1, 2024 may also apply.
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, 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. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• Fluent English language, both written and spoken
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program .

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Phd candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate  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

• Relevant research experience within radiotherapy
• Relevant research experience within cell cultures and/or bone spheroids
• Practical experience with molecular biology methods (microscopes, flow cytometry, immunology, radiobiological assays)
• FELASA category C certificate in animal laboratory science
• Previous oral presentations of research at scientific meetings
• Scientific papers in international peer-review journals in related fields

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

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 532 200 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 3 years.

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 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 be attached to the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

The application must include : 

• CV and certificates
• 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 contact information 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.

We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your efforts in the joint work, you must enclose a short 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

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is our strength. We want to recruit people with different competencies, educational backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to solving our social responsibilities within education and research. We will facilitate for our employees’ needs.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality.  

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.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation . You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

Questions about the position can be directed to Professor Kathrine Røe Redalen ([email protected] ), Department of Physics, NTNU.

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.  

Application deadline: February 7, 2024

 

 

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 .

Requirements

Research Field

Physics » Biophysics

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Country

Norway

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/254772/phd-position-in-biophysic…

Contact

City

Trondheim

Website

http://www.ntnu.no

Street

Høgskoleringen 5

Postal Code

N-7034

STATUS: EXPIRED