Research associate (MSc/PhD) for translational PET/SPECT quantification and research data management in nuclear medicine

KU Leuven has a unique centre for translational PET imaging, with a fully GMP-certified production site, that is currently being expanded with a second facility, and a track record of over 20 worldwide first-in-man studies with novel radiotracers. A fully equipped preclinical and clinical imaging research infrastructure with state-of-the-art cameras including simultaneous PET/MR, 2 PET/CT, 4 SPECT(/CT) and several microPET/SPECT/CT systems are available. Our overall programme aims to expand existing research capacity to facilitate the rapid translation of novel PET tracers from preclinical into first-in-man studies, in collaboration with various European and worldwide partners, also via the EuroBioImaging ERIC. The overall aim is to develop novel quantitative imaging biomarkers for improved clinical diagnostics, pathophysiological research, and drug development for both CNS disease and oncology including theranostics.

We are searching for a dedicated research associate for image analysis, kinetic modelling of preclinical and clinical data, as well as data management coordination. The ideal candidate would be driven by the desire to apply quantitative imaging and has proven expertise in either preclinical or clinical PET quantification, with interest in developing these tools translationally. He/she will be working closely with a team of PIs in CNS and oncology imaging as well as radiotracer development, and will collaborate closely with medical physicists as the University Hospital and KU Leuven University. The candidate will apply, develop, and optimise PET data processing pipelines, manage the departments’ imaging database of research PET CNS and collaborate with internal UZ/KU Leuven and external academic and industry partners with on-time professional delivery of project results and share his/her expertise in guidance of core users including PhD and postdoctoral researchers based on service contracts.

Responsibilities

- You are responsible for independent, timely and quality data processing of contract and academic research studies, with primarily CNS PET (> 50%) and oncological PET/SPECT;

- You are involved in methodological aspects of grant proposals and service contracts, also to enable recurrent funding for your position on the long term;

- You oversee and collaborate on the implementation of novel research data processing pipelines and structured data management of clinical and preclinical research data;

- You work under direct supervision of the departmental head;

- You work in close collaboration and can be supported by our medical physics ZAP on image quantification, PI physicians and the department’s innovation manager;

- Please note that the position is not intended to pursue a fully independent research trajectory or PhD for yourself, but is supportive of research in the whole group.

Profile

- You have a master or PhD in (medical) physics, engineering, bio-engineering or equivalent, with experience in (nuclear medicine) image processing;

- Knowledge of kinetic modelling, SPM, Freesurfer, Matlab/Python, statistical image analysis tools and clinical/preclinical software packages is a plus;

- Experience in working in a contract research setting is a plus;

- You have strong scientific skills and a desire to be actively involved in preclinical and clinical projects, programming skills are a plus;

- You are dynamic, have good communication skills and eager to work supportively in a team;

- You have an eye for detail and quality in presentation of results, next to being stress resistant and having good problem-solving skills;

- You have excellent knowledge of English, both oral and writing. A working knowledge of Dutch/Flemish is a strong plus;

- You are willing to work in a flexible schedule.

Offer

- The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team of medical doctors, physicists, engineers and technologists at the Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging department at UZ and KU Leuven, both for preclinical and clinical imaging;

- We offer an exciting working environment aimed at inclusive and supportive human collaboration and professionality with aim of translation to highly innovative patient care in a university hospital setting;

- Multiple contacts with industrial pharmaceutical and imaging company partners;

- A full-time mandate of 2 years funded by commercial and service contracts, but extendable depending on further funding;

- Relocation facilities can be foreseen through KU Leuven.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Koen Van Laere, tel.: +3216343715, mail: koen.vanlaere@kuleuven.be or Mr. Peter Vermaelen, tel.: +32 16 33 09 06, mail: peter.vermaelen@kuleuven.be.
KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.