MSCA-DN PhD position: brain large axial field of view PET/CT
You will join PREFERENCE, an international Marie Skłodowska-Curie doctoral network dedicated to advancing large axial field of view (LAFOV) PET/CT imaging. PREFERENCE brings together 12 academic institutions and several industrial partners with extensive expertise in quantitative imaging, image analysis and imaging technology.
By conducting research in both academic and industrial settings, PhD candidates within PREFERENCE receive interdisciplinary training and develop a unique combination of scientific, technical and transferable skills. The consortium aims to develop new LAFOV PET/CT methodologies and apply them in clinical studies across different disease areas to generate novel biological insights.
As part of the network-wide training programme, you will collaborate with leading international experts and complete research visits at partner institutes across Europe. This project has received funding from the European Union under the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme.
Within this project, you will develop new image analysis methodologies for less invasive and non-invasive quantitative brain PET studies using LAFOV PET/CT. You will work on model-independent kinetic analysis methods, develop connectivity analysis techniques for dynamic brain PET data and explore artificial intelligence solutions to improve brain PET quantification.
As a PhD candidate, you will contribute to the development of advanced analysis methods for brain LAFOV PET/CT imaging and translate these innovations into clinical research applications.
Your responsibilities include:
- developing new methodologies for less invasive and non-invasive quantitative brain PET studies;
- designing model-independent kinetic analysis methods for dynamic PET imaging;
- developing connectivity analysis techniques for brain LAFOV PET/CT data;
- exploring and implementing artificial intelligence solutions for brain PET quantification;
- presenting your research at national and international conferences and publishing your findings in peer-reviewed journals.
You are passionate about medical imaging and enjoy working at the intersection of physics, computer science and healthcare. You thrive in an international and multidisciplinary environment and are eager to contribute to innovative research.
In addition, you have:
- an MSc degree or equivalent in physics, biomedical engineering, computer science or a related field;
- an excellent command of the English language; knowledge of Dutch is considered an advantage;
- strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate across disciplines;
- flexibility and willingness to travel internationally;
- an affinity with technical and computational methods.
The following qualifications are considered an advantage:
- experience with medical imaging data;
- programming or other technical skills relevant to quantitative image analysis;
- the physical ability to work in a radiation-controlled area.
Note: Important strict eligibility criteria according to MARIE SKLODOWSKA CURIE programs:
- You must not already hold a doctoral degree.
- At the time of the application deadline, you must also have a Master's degree and must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the three years prior to the contract start date.
- You will participate in the network-wide training programme of PREFERENCE, including three to four research visits of one month each at partner institutes across Europe.
- A contract for 12 months, with the intention to extend for a total of 4 years. The Guideline PhD contract applies to this vacancy.
- Salary scale OIO: € 3.217 to € 4.077 gross based on full-time employment (depending on education and experience) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. Calculate your net salary here.
- You will receive a living allowance of €4,010 per month, adjusted with a country-specific correction factor and subject to local employer contributions and tax regulations. In addition, candidates will receive a monthly mobility allowance of €710. If applicable, a family allowance of €660 per month is provided for fellows with a spouse and/or dependent children. Successful applicants are also eligible for parental leave in accordance with Dutch legislation.
- Vacation hours: 190.4 per year based on full-time employment and possibility to save additional hours.
- Free and unlimited access to our online learning environment GoodHabitz.
- Pension accrual with the ABP, of which we pay 70% of the premium.
- Reimbursement of your public transport expenses. Do you prefer biking to work? Then we have a good bicycle scheme.
- An active staff association and Jong Amsterdam UMC association, both of which organize fun (sports) activities and events.
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss applicants require a valid residence permit to live and work in the Netherlands.
You will work within the department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc. The department has extensive expertise in molecular imaging and houses a large radiochemistry section with GMP-compliant laboratories dedicated to the development of new radiotracers.
The department operates two SPECT/CT systems, three PET/CT systems and one long axial field of view PET/CT scanner. The nuclear medicine physics team is internationally recognised for its work on PET quantification and standardisation and has the expertise and infrastructure required to perform advanced quantitative imaging studies.
You will join the Nuclear Medicine Physics Research team, which currently consists of three physicists and data scientists, three data managers and research assistants, and ten PhD candidates. The team works in close collaboration with radiochemists, radiopharmacists, biologists, computer scientists and nuclear medicine physicians. In addition, the department collaborates intensively with other departments within Amsterdam UMC, including Pulmonology, Medical Oncology, Hematology and Neurology.
After assessing eligibility for the PhD position, we aim to hold the first interviews in September 2026. During the interview process, an international mentor from the PREFERENCE consortium and, where applicable, an external scientific advisor will participate online.
If you have any questions about this position, please feel free to contact prof. dr. Ronald Boellaard, at preference@amsterdamumc.nl.
A reference check, screening and hiring assessment may be part of the procedure. Read here whether that applies to you. If you join us, we ask you for a VOG (Certificate of Good Conduct).
Acquisition in response to this vacancy will not be considered.
