Graduiertenkolleg GRK 2274 starts recruiting

 

DFG-Funded Research Training Group / Graduiertenkolleg GRK 2274
“Advanced Medical Physics for Image-guided Cancer Therapy”

The Research Training Group / Graduiertenkolleg GRK 2274 “Advanced Medical Physics for Image-Guided Cancer Therapy” is a joint initiative of the Physics and Medical Faculties of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) and the Technische Universität München (TUM) as well as the Helmholtzzentrum München (HMGU). The training programme, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for an initial period of 4,5 years, will become operational on October 1st, 2017 (Speaker: Prof. Dr. Katia Parodi/ LMU, Vice Speaker: Prof. Dr. Franz Pfeiffer/ TUM). Preliminary information can be found here:

Mission and research programme
Cancer is a major societal challenge, where the combination of novel imaging and computational techniques with advanced therapeutic strategies is key to early diagnosis, exact tumour characterization and successful treatment. The goal GRK2274 is to promote young scientists from natural sciences and medicine in this rapidly growing field of medical physics. GRK2274 covers basic, translational and clinical research, building upon a long tradition of excellence in biomedical research in Munich from the two universities (LMU, TUM) and the research center HMGU. The multi- and interdisciplinary research programme will touch upon innovative areas of computing (research area A), imaging (research area B) and therapy (research area C), addressed in synergistic Ph.D. and M.D. projects with the common goal to advance image-guided cancer therapy. The original qualification concept features a broad spectrum of compulsory and eligible training activities, to ensure not only academic excellence and scientific independence, but also the development of fundamental personal effectiveness. GRK2274 thus provides an ideal platform to promote innovations in oncology with a potentially high societal impact, and to form the next generation of scientists with excellent career prospects in academia, clinic and industry.

People

PI (Principal Investigator)	Institution	Email and Webpage
Belka, Claus Prof. Dr.	LMU Department of Radiation Oncology, München	claus.belka@med.uni-muenchen.de www.klinikum.uni-muenchen.de/Klinik-und-Poliklinik-fuer-Strahlentherapie-und-Radioonkologie
Coan, Paola Prof. Dr.	LMU Institute for Clinical Radiology, München	paola.coan@physik.uni-muenchen.de www.munich-photonics.de/research/w2-research-groups/brilliant-x-rays-for-medical-diagnostics/
Combs, Stephanie Prof. Dr.	TUM Department of Radiation Oncology, München	stephanie.combs@tum.de www.radonc.med.tum.de
Ertl-Wagner, Birgit Prof. Dr.	LMU Institute for Clinical Radiology, München	birgit.ertl-wagner@med.uni-muenchen.de www.radiologie-lmu.de
Menze, Björn Prof. Dr.	TUM Computer Science, Garching b. München	bjoern.menze@tum.de ibbm.in.tum.de
Menzel, Marion PD Dr.	TUM Institute of Medical Engineering (IMETUM) and GE Global Research, Garching b. München	menzel@ge.com www.mmenzel.de
Nekolla, Stephan PD Dr.	TUM Department of Nuclear Medicine, München	stephan.nekolla@tum.de www.nuk.mri.tum.de/node/139
Noël, Peter PD Dr.	TUM Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, München	peter.noel@tum.de www.rad.mri.tum.de/ag/noel
Parodi, Katia Prof. Dr.	LMU Chair of Medical Physics, Garching b. München	katia.parodi@lmu.de www.med.physik.uni-muenchen.de
Pfeiffer, Franz Prof. Dr.	TUM Chair of Biomedical Physics, Garching b. München	franz.pfeiffer@ph.tum.de www.e17.ph.tum.de
Rühm, Werner Prof. Dr.	HMGU Institute of Radiation Protection, Neuherberg b. München	werner.ruehm@helmholtz-muenchen.de www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/en/institute-of-radiation-protection/research/research-groups/medical-and-environmental-dosimetry
Schreiber, Jörg Prof. Dr.	LMU Chair of Medical Physics, Garching b. München	joerg.schreiber@lmu.de www.med.physik.uni-muenchen.de/research/laser-acceleration
Sroka, Ronald PD Dr.	LMU Laser Research Lab, München	ronald.sroka@med.uni-muenchen.de www.klinikum.uni-muenchen.de/LIFE-Zentrum/de/lfl/index.html
Wilkens, Jan Prof. Dr.	TUM Department of Radiation Oncology, München	wilkens@tum.de www.radonc.med.tum.de
Ziegler, Sibylle Prof. Dr.	LMU Department of Nuclear Medicine, München	sibylle.ziegler@med.uni-muenchen.de www.klinikum.uni-muenchen.de/Klinik-und-Poliklinik-fuer-Nuklearmedizin

 Project topics (including associated co-PI in bracket)

Research Area A: Computing
A1	Parodi, (Dedes)	Hybrid patient model for advanced Monte Carlo computing
A2	Menze, Combs	Automated image segmentation for radiotherapy treatment planning
Research Area B: Imaging
B1	Pfeiffer, (Herzen)	Phase-contrast imaging and spectral CT in phantom studies and animal models
B2	Coan	Phase-contrast imaging for radiotherapy
B3	Wilkens	Dual energy CT for small animal imaging
B4	Parodi, (Landry)	Dual energy CT for proton therapy
B5	Noël	Image reconstruction in spectral CT
B6	Nekolla	Image reconstruction in PET/MRI
B7	Ertl-Wagner, (Ingrisch, Dietrich)	Robust evaluation of IVIM- and DCE-MRI for perfusion quantification
B8	Menzel, Menze	Machine learning and quantitative imaging: multimodal physiological maps via Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting
Research Area C: Therapy
C1	Schreiber, Parodi	Ionoacoustic detection of laser-driven ion beams
C2	W. Rühm	Secondary neutrons at laser-driven proton sources
C3	Wilkens, Combs, (Breitkreutz)	Neutron therapy planning
C4	Belka, (Kamp)	Adaptive radiotherapy physics
C5	Ziegler, (Böning, Ilhan)	Monte Carlo based dosimetry for radionuclide therapy
C6	Sroka, (A. Rühm)	Interstitial photodynamic therapy

How to apply

Ideal candidates should hold (or be in the final stage of) a highly ranked Master of Science (MSc) in Physics, Biomedical Engineering or Informatics, be fluent in English, have knowledge of medical physics and possess technical proficiency, scientific creativity, fast adaptation to new problems and fruitful collaboration with international and multidisciplinary working teams. Prior experience in software programming and Linux and Windows operating systems is favorable. Disabled candidates are preferentially considered in case of equal qualification. Applications from women are encouraged.

To apply for a position, please send your electronic application (letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, last school certificate, university degree including grades, publication list, other qualification certificates like TOEFL, and two recommendation letters including contact information of your references)  via our online submission system at:

http://portal.graduatecenter-lmu.de/ocgc/grk2274

For general questions please contact our scientific coordinators:

• Dr. Dr. Christian Thieke (Christian.Thieke@med.uni-muenchen.de)
• Veronica Bodek (Veronica.Bodek@tum.de)

For further information on a specific topic, please make direct contact with the project PI.

+++ More details and a dedicated webpage will follow soon +++