PhD Position Optical Coherence Tomography for Skin Diagnostics

This PhD position focuses on developing optical coherence tomography (OCT) for skin diagnostics at TU Delft (Delft University of Technology).

Are you building the next generation optical coherence tomography system?

Job description

Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and its incidence is expected to rise rapidly in the near future. Hence, there is an urgent need for new low cost and high performance screening and diagnostics devices to meet the expected clinical demand. Are you inspired by this challenge and excited to work on the boundary between biomedicine and technology?

In this project you will develop advanced optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems based on novel near infrared supercontinuum (SC) light sources and detectors. The scientific challenge is threefold:

• Optimize the OCT system in terms of noise and detection efficiency, based on experiments and physical modeling of SC, detector, and system performance.
• Obtain high-resolution deep-tissue images from clinically relevant samples by applying superresolution and 3D Fourier OCT signal processing techniques.
• Develop a compact, robust, and cost-effective OCT system suitable for use in a clinically relevant setting.

In this PhD you work towards making an impact in skin cancer imaging in a collaboration between The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Erasmus Medical Center. As a PhD you are expected to contribute to the team and work closely together with applied physicists, clinicians, and technicians.

Job requirements

You are an enthusiastic candidate with a drive for applied physics and building high performance imaging systems, with a demonstrable interest in optics, imaging system design, and signal processing. The candidate should have an MSc degree in Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or the equivalent. The PhD position is firmly embedded in a physics environment, but you will strongly interact with partners in applied physics, high-tech industry, and biomedicine. Good communication skills in English are a prerequisite.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts: an initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society.

Faculty Applied Sciences

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics.