# 2 PhD positions (Early Stage Researcher) in quantitative magnetic resonance relaxometry imaging (Position ESR2 and ESR5) (f/m)

Description:
B-Q MINDED (www.bqminded.eu) is an EU-funded project aiming to develop breakthroughs in quantitative MR imaging such as MR relaxometry and diffusion MRI. B-Q MINDED will offer the selected early stage researchers (ESR) the opportunity to conduct top-notch research in leading academic institutions, hospitals and industry R&D divisions. During the research there will be strong emphasis on career development and on achieving impact. B-Q MINDED has the ambition to turn the developed algorithms into diagnostic solutions for improved health and care.

Specifically, your research (ESR “2”) will involve the development of a super-resolution reconstruction method that enables the direct estimation of high resolution (HR) relaxation parameter (i.e., T1/T2) maps from a set of low resolution (LR) images, where each slice of each LR image may be acquired with different T1/T2 weighting settings, thus offering maximum flexibility to optimize the weighting settings for each slice individually. This method will improve the trade-off between signal-to-noise, resolution and scan time, thereby allowing precise estimation of HR parameter maps from shorter scans.
Your research (ESR "5") will involve the development of novel sequences for the acquisition of diffusion MRI data that allow flexible variation of diffusion weighting settings during scanning. Complementary to this intra-scan modulation approach, an optimal strategy for experiment design will be developed that fully exploits the flexibility of varying the diffusion weighting settings to estimate diffusion parameter maps from shorter scans while maintaining a high precision.
Qualifications:
You have a master’s degree in physics, computer science, mathematics, engineering, or related field (if you have not obtained your diploma yet, but expect to do so in the near future, please apply already).

Background in scientific computing and/or magnetic resonance imaging MRI is appreciated.
In view of the international context, mastering of the English language is mandatory.
International mobility of researchers is a key concept within the MSCA ETN framework. As such you participate in international meetings, workshops and a secondment programme.
You want to tell the world about your novel findings with attractive posters, sparkling presentations and high quality papers.
Eligibility criteria of the Marie-Sklodowska Curie programme

Early Stage Researcher: At the time of recruitment, you are in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of your research careers and have not yet been awarded a doctoral degree.
Mobility rule: At the time of recruitment, you have not resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date. Compulsory national service or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.
Labs involved:
Vision Lab is a research group of the physics department at the University of Antwerp. The Vision Lab has unique expertise in reconstruction, processing and analysis of imaging data. The working environment is strongly interdisciplinary, combining techniques and insights from Physics, Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. The group has a broad range of national and international collaborations with both academic and industrial partners. In this project, you will strongly collaborate with MRI labs such as Bio-Imaging lab (UAntwerp), University Hospital (UAntwerp), BIGR (Univ Rotterdam) or Siemens Belgium.
More details on Vision Lab’s research are available at http://visielab.uantwerpen.be.

Our offer:
Exciting multidisciplinary research in a collaborative network of top academic and industrial partners.
State-of-the-art computing and imaging infrastructure to support your research.
You will be enrolled in our PhD training programme.
Special focus on career development by offering training in transferable skills such as project management, communication skills, grant writing, exploitation of results, etc.
The fellowship is awarded for a period of 3 years.
You will benefit of a regular employment contract.
Starting date:
To be discussed
Applications:
Applications may only be submitted online via the template on our website until the closing date June 30th, 2018 via this link.

www.bqminded.eu

Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from Prof. Dr. J. Sijbers, (Jan.Sijbers$uantwerpen.be) or Dr. ir. A. J. den Dekker (arjan.dendekker$uantwerpen.be).

Organisation:
Job location:
Antwerpen
Belgium
Contact and application information