PhD position for Very High Energy Electron (VHEE) Radiotherapy

Job description

Currently, externally applied X-ray beams (using photons) is the dominant radiotherapy option as treatment of cancer. A new and emerging treatment option is to use Very High Energy Electrons (VHEE). Compared to X-ray radiotherapy, the specific characteristics of VHEE indicate that it could be used to more successfully eradicate tumors, or to substantially reduce observed severe radiation-induced side-effects, with often a detrimental impact on the patient’s quality of life after cure.

VHEE radiotherapy is currently under development, and does not yet exist as clinical treatment. In this project, you will develop computerized algorithms to investigate how to best optimize patient-specific dose distributions for VHEE, how to maximally use VHEE-specific properties, and the benefit of using VHEE for various cancers. Also, it will be investigated which technical requirements are essential, to steer development of future VHEE treatment devices. Finally, you will in collaboration with physicians compare VHEE radiotherapy against conventional radiotherapy options. The overall aim of the project is to investigate if VHEE radiotherapy can sufficiently reduce the probability of developing radiation-induced side-effects for a broad group of patients, to warrant further clinical development of the technique.

This project is a close collaboration with a PhD candidate at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) on dose computation, and a PhD candidate at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) who will work on VHEE-FLASH radiotherapy. In addition, there is collaboration with CERN to facilitate experimental VHEE measurements, and an industry partner, which can facilitate worldwide clinical application.

Work environment

Erasmus MC Cancer Institute encompasses one of the largest radiotherapy departments in Europe, treating over 5500 patients per year. The radiotherapy department has a wide-ranged and internationally renowned research program, focused on improvement of clinical radiotherapy practice. Much of the applied research is physics/technology driven. The department is a world leader in development of radiotherapy optimization algorithms for different modalities.

The research will be performed in a multi-disciplinary environment with physicists, mathematicians, scientific programmers, radiation technologists, clinicians, PhD students and postdocs. The team is broadly recognized as a world leader in the field of automated generation of highest quality plans using mathematical optimization approaches. The hired PhD researcher will closely collaborate with other investigators involved in projects on treatment planning. As a PhD student you will have access to the courses of the Erasmus MC postgraduate school of Molecular Medicine and to the PhD educational program on medical physics, and you will participate in the departmental journal clubs, and R&D meetings.

Qualifications and skills

• The selected candidate has a master degree in (Computational) Physics, Biomedical Engineering, (Applied) Mathematics, Operational Research, or a related discipline.
• You are enthusiastic about analyzing and solving problems by programming (Matlab, Python, C/C++), and interested in modelling.
• You have a practical, result-driven working attitude, and you are an excellent team player.
• Good academic writing and presentation skills in English are required as well (IELTS 7.0/C2 or equivalent). 

Before you apply please check our conditions for employment.

Terms of employment

• You will receive a temporary position for 4 years. The gross monthly salary is € 3.017,- in the 1st year and increases to € 3.824,- in the 4th year (scale OIO).
• A salary increase of 3% from July 2025, according to the collective labor agreement (cao).
• Excellent fringe benefits, such as a 13th month that is already paid out in November and a individual travel expense package. 
• An International Office which aids you in preparing for you arrival and stay. 
• Pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 2/3 of the monthly contribution. 
• Special benefits, such as a incompany physiotherapist and bicycle repairer. And there is also a gym where you can work on your fitness after work. 

More information

For more information about this position, please contact dr. S. Breedveld, associate professor, via s.breedveld@erasmusmc.nl.

No agencies please.