PhD Position Imaging of rectal cancer – improving radiological diagnoses

Staging of rectal cancer needs precise delineation of the bowel wall and accurate identification of malignant lymph nodes to determine the optimal treatment strategy. Non-invasive imaging by MRI plays an important role in this evaluation already, but challenges related to e.g. bowel motion and the anatomy of the rectum remain.

As a researcher you will:

• Enhance the accuracy of imaging for local staging in rectal cancer through adopting higher resolution and robust MRI techniques.
• Run clinical pilot studies to optimize and evaluate high-resolution MRI of the bowel wall to assess early rectal cancer and/or recurrence using state-of-the-art MR technologies.
• Improve tumor classification and detection of invading tumor components, by analyzing imaging features using radiomics/deep learning strategies
• Collaborate closely with radiologists, gastroenterologists, technicians and engineers from academic (UMC Utrecht) and industry (Philips MRI) to translate technological innovations to opportunities to improve patient care.
• Conduct and publish high-quality scientific research, including studies on the clinical value of new MRI developments, AI applications in healthcare, and actively participation in international conferences.

You will join an exciting multidisciplinary project, that helps to identify patients that can be treated with a less invasive procedure, and provides accurate imaging follow-up, in order to optimize healthcare resources and minimize patient burden.

You will work at the Center for Image Sciences and the Radiology Department of UMC Utrecht. You will join the ImagO PhD Programme and its active PhD community. Your PhD colleagues regularly organize academic and social activities, helping you settle into our environment quickly.

Your role is set in the IMAGINE Open Innovation Lab, a collaboration between multiple institutions and industry partners that integrates clinical expertise with engineering innovation. Together, these partners drive advancements in imaging and image-guided interventions in oncology, cardiology, and other medical domains. The IMAGINE network fosters a truly multidisciplinary approach, enabling rapid innovation and effective translation of research into clinical practice.

Through close collaboration among clinicians, engineers, physicists, and researchers, IMAGINE aims to create personalized treatments that are more precise, less burdensome for patients, and more efficient for healthcare systems. At the same time, the program helps reduce strain on healthcare resources and contributes to lower healthcare costs. IMAGINE also plays a central role in training future-ready professionals within an inspiring and collaborative work environment. Your direct colleagues will include researchers and support staff from diverse backgrounds who share a strong commitment to improving patient outcomes. The team values a supportive, inclusive atmosphere where members inspire and challenge one another.

• You have a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Technical Medicine, Medical Technology, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• You are fluent in English and have a good command of Dutch, both written and spoken.
• You are eager to work in a clinical environment (Radiology) and collaborate closely with clinicians, technicians, engineers, and researchers.
• You have an ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams and communicate effectively across disciplines.
• You have experience with medical imaging acquisition technology and/or image data analysis.
• You are organized and have strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• You are proactive, curious, and capable of working independently as well as in a multidisciplinary team.
• Preferably, you have good programming skills.
• You are in the possession of a BROK certificate or willing to obtain one.

• A salary between € 3108 and € 3939 gross per month, based on full-time employment (36 hours). 
• A position for a period of 4 years 
• Year-end bonus of 8.3% and holiday allowance of 8%. 
• Pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 70% of the monthly contribution. 
  100% public transport reimbursement. Are you coming on foot, by bike or by car? You will then receive a reimbursement of € 0.18 per km (by car up to a max. of 40 km one way). 
• Possibilities to develop yourself personally and professionally. 
• The option to select additional employment benefits in exchange for gross salary, such as purchasing a bicycle and memberships.