PhD students in next-generation magnetic resonance elastography for the brain - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Project description

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) for the brain is a technique of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in which mechanical properties of the brain tissue are estimated non-invasively. Our group is creating next-generation MRE tools to improve the mechanical characterization of brain tissues. These methods will go beyond the current state-of-the-art. We collaborate with doctors from Karolinska University Hospital to use the methods to characterize different brain diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumors. The following two PhD student positions are offered in this call:  

1. Fast and accurate viscoelastic MRE:

Most MRE methods use a viscoelastic model. Standard deep learning methods have shown their potential to speed the estimation of viscoelastic properties of the brain from MRE data. In this project, we will explore the use of advanced AI methods, including physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) and AI-based dynamic system identification, for estimating viscoelastic properties such as stiffness and viscosity. The main goal is to develop methods that target not only speed but also accuracy.

2. Poroelastic MRE:

Some specific clinical applications of MRE benefit from poroelastic models for MRE. Poroelastic MRE has been less studied than viscoelastic MRE. In this project, we aim to develop and validate new poroelastic MRE methods. For this, we will explore two strategies: a) combine MRE and other advanced MRI sequences into computational mechanical models; b) develop and optimize new MRE imaging methods that can be used for characterizing the poroelasticity of tissues.

This project is a collaboration between Associate Professor Rodrigo Moreno (rodmore@kth.se) from the Division of Biomedical Imaging at KTH, Associate Professor Tobias Granberg from the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Karolinska Institute (tobias.granberg@ki.se), Professor Christian Gasser from the Department of Engineering Mechanics at KTH (gasser@kth.se) and Professor Lisa Prahl Wittberg from the same department (prahl@kth.se). These positions are funded by grants from MedTechLabs, and HMT.

Third-cycle subject: TH Technology and Health

Supervision: Rodrigo Moreno is proposed to supervise the doctoral students. Decisions are made on admission

What we offer

• The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.Read more
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
• Work and study in Stockholm, close to nature and the water.
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.
• A multi-disciplinary environment that mixes engineers, medical physicists, and medical doctors. The groups conduct research in the frontier area of technology and medicine, focusing on the technical development of new methods and improvement of existing methods for more efficient, safer, and cheaper diagnostics, monitoring, and treatment in health care. For this project, we collaborate with clinical partners from Karolinska University Hospital who work with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and brain cancer, as well as with technical partners from the Department of Engineering Mechanics at KTH.
• Access to state-of-the-art MRI infrastructure that includes the 7T and 3T scanners.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge
• For the viscoelastic project, it is required to have good programming skills and experience with deep learning libraries like PyTorch or TensorFlow.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6, read more here

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyse and work with complex issues.
• For the poroelastic project, having experience with computational mechanical modeling or MRI acquisition is a plus.
• For the viscoelastic project, having experience with physics-informed neural networks or system identification is a plus.
• A strong background in mathematics or physics is not required, but it is highly recognized as a merit.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal competency. 

Target degree: Doctoral degree

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. 

Union representatives

You will find contact information for union representatives on KTH's website.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

You will find contact information for doctoral section on the section's website.

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.Copies of originals must be certified.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.
• Contact information of two reference persons. We reserve the right to contact references only for selected candidates.
• Please state your preference between the two projects in the application letter.

Other information

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process please read here.

The position may include security-sensitive activities. To become authorized, you therefore need to pass a possible security check.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.