Advancements in radiotherapy are crucial given the global rise in cancer incidence, which poses significant societal and economic burdens. Effective radiotherapy can vastly improve patient outcomes, reducing mortality and enhancing quality of life. However, traditional treatment planning is complex and can lead to suboptimal results and side effects. Innovation in this field, particularly through robust auto-planning, is necessary to ensure consistently high-quality treatments, minimize toxicities, and increase the efficiency and accessibility of advanced cancer care, ultimately benefiting public health and reducing healthcare costs.

Automated machine learning planning will be explored for proton radiotherapy, specifically Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT), Proton Arc Therapy and photon arc therapy and compared to manually optimized plans. The most frequently treated tumor sites in the head and neck (i.e., nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx) will be included as well as tumor sites in the thorax (lung and esophageal cancer). Results will be compared to Quality of Life planning, and methods will be optimized to maximize performance.

We offer two PhD positions in a project with our treatment planning system manufacturer, RaySearch Laboratories.

- We are seeking passionate and driven PhD students with a strong interest in radiotherapy and AI.
- The candidates should have a master degree in Physics or Computer Science or related.
- A background in AI or radiation physics as part of the master program is recommended.
- Teamplayers with excellent communication skills (preferably English and Dutch).

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. The UMCG can provide you with the vaccination, should it be required for your position. In case of specific professions a ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’ is required.

A contract as PhD student (0.9 – 1.0 FTE) for one year, which will be extended for another 3 years after a positive evaluation. Your salary ranges from a minimum of € 3.017,- gross per month in the first year to a maximum of € 3.824,- gross per month (PRO scale) in the final (4th) year, based on a full-time appointment. In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

Radiation Oncology

The University Medical Center Groningen is one of the largest university hospitals and the first in the Netherlands with an integrated state-of-the-art photon and proton academic radiation oncology department. Currently, radiotherapy treatments are provided for over 4,500 patients annually in the Department of Radiation Oncology.
Within the Radiation Oncology Department the division of Medical Physics and Instrumentation is responsible for innovation and quality control of treatment (planning) methods and technologies. Medical Physics and Instrumentation is a large team including (computational) medical physicists and residents, medical physics assistants, IT engineers, LINAC engineers, PhD students and post-doctoral fellows.