Assistant Professor (Education and Research): Ultrasound and Translational Photoacoustics

Job description

Ultrasound imaging is the most ubiquitous of diagnostic imaging modalities since it is non-invasive, relatively inexpensive, real-time and is compact and portable enabling point-of-care application.

In recent years, the horizons of ultrasound imaging have been further expanded with the advent of photoacoustic imaging. This technique combines the strengths of ultrasound and pulsed laser interactions with tissue to create high-resolution images of blood vessels deep in tissue and possess rich functional information. Photoacoustics shows promise in various applications, including early cancer detection, monitoring vascular changes, and visualizing tissue oxygenation, and we are barely scratching the surface.

There are many opportunities for teaching in ultrasound imaging, and in translational research in photoacoustic imaging at the University of Twente. We have opened a vacancy for an Assistant Professor with a teaching portfolio. The optimal candidate has a PhD in Ultrasound or Photoacoustic Imaging, with a Master degree in Technical Medicine, Biomedical Engineering or Applied Physics.

You will predominantly provide education in the Technical Medicine program in ultrasound imaging. You have proficiency for teaching or will demonstrate the ability to develop proficiency in giving lectures, guiding practical and overseeing student projects. You will also guide clinical internships of Technical Medicine students. On the research side you will work on giving an impetus to photoacoustic imaging translational research. This will be dominantly in breast imaging, but also for applications in thyroid, prostate and oral cancers, and further in cardiac-related and vascular disorders. A large component will be in design, developing, characterizing and applying new and challenging phantoms for photoacoustics and ultrasound. These will be phantoms that mimic not only the anatomic but also functional imaging biomarkers of various organs. You should have the ambition of developing a research line within this broad area and leading research projects in cooperation with existing or new clinical partners, industry partners and other research groups.

Your profile

• You are a creative and enthusiastic teacher and researcher with a PhD degree in Ultrasound or Photoacoustic Imaging. Work in development of phantoms is a plus;
• You have a Master degree in Technical Medicine, Biomedical Engineering or Applied Physics;
• You have a strong affinity for teaching, with experience in teaching via lectures and practicals. You enjoy interacting with students;
• You have a good track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals;
• Experience with post-doctoral research in ultrasound or photoacoustic imaging in a translational setting is a plus. Experience in developing study protocols for Institutional Review Boards is a plus;
• You have excellent communication skills in Dutch and English, both written and spoken;
• You can work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Our offer

•  A full-time position initially for 1.5 years, with the intention for a contract extension for an indefinite period of time, and the flexibility to work (partially) from home;
• Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU);
• You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from € 4.332,- to € 5.929,- based on your experience;
• There are excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme;
• A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis;
• Free access to sports facilities on campus;
• A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid);
• Excellent career support and courses for your professional and personal development.

Information and application

Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the 'Apply now' button below before 1 November 2023 and include CV, letter of motivation, contact details of at least three references, links to PhD thesis, to education given, and to scientific publications.

About the department

The Multi-Modality Medical Imaging (M3I) group headed by Prof. S. Manohar, works on developing new imaging technologies and approaches for diagnostics, therapy guidance and therapy evaluation. The technologies are intended to provide patient-oriented solutions, and the group has the ambition to develop into a hotbed of translational research. The novel technologies straddle most energy sources from light, to ultrasound, to x-rays. The education by M3I serves the curricula of Technical Medicine and Biomedical Engineering with in-depth teaching of imaging concepts. Staff of the group also supervise clinical internships in (university) medical centers.

About the organisation

The Faculty of Science & Technology (Technische Natuurwetenschappen, TNW) engages some 700 staff members and 2000 students in education and research on the cutting edge of chemical technology, applied physics and biomedical technology. Our fields of application include sustainable energy, process technology and materials science, nanotechnology and technical medicine. As part of a people-first tech university that aims to shape society, individuals and connections, our faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad, and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Our research has a high profile both in the Netherlands and internationally and is strengthened by the many young researchers working on innovative projects with as doctoral candidates and post-docs. It has been accommodated in three multidisciplinary UT research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centre and Digital Society Institute.