PhD position musculoskeletal imaging

Your project will focus on the analysis of MRI scans, radiographs, and PET-CT scans of patients with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). Medical image analysis, but also integrative statistical analysis of imaging data with other datasets (clinical, biochemical), will be an important part of your project. There is space to pursue your own image analysis ideas within this project (e.g. machine learning or exploration of new analysis techniques). You will perform your research with joint support and supervision from the Rheumatology and Radiology departments. Patient recruitment of 160 patients in the TOFA-PREDICT study is halfway. The first (image) analyses will start soon. The last data collection and verification of the interim analyses will be completed end of 2024. The goal of this research project is to provide patients with a personalized treatment strategy where we can select specific drugs based on predictions.

You will coordinate your work within an (inter)national network of collaborators, including industry partners. Moreover, collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, biologists, radiologists, statisticians, and bioinformaticians form an essential part of the job. We offer an exciting opportunity to contribute to an ambitious research program within a highly motivated team. Teaching opportunities will be available, if desired. You will receive training, supervision, and guidance for both your research work and personal development, which will provide an excellent basis to an independent academic career. You will also join the Graduate School of Life Sciences, where you can follow courses and participate in events for PhD students, and attend (inter)national conferences.

The initial contract will be for a period of one year, in case of mutual agreement this will be extended to a total of four years with a thesis defense as a final goal.