Vacancy: Doctoral Candidate

Deadline: 09.02.2026

Project description

It is now a well-known fact that proton therapy (PT) suffers from range uncertainties that limit the full exploitation of the dosimetric advantages of PT as an effective cancer treatment modality. Range uncertainties might result from errors in the estimation of the proton stopping power in tissue, patient setup errors, anatomical changes and organ motion. To mitigate the undesired effects of range uncertainties, several online range and dose monitoring techniques are being investigated. The project at hand focuses on further developments of a novel concept being developed within the so-called NOVO (Next Generation Imaging for Real-Time Dose Verification Enabling Adaptive Proton Therapy) project.

In the NOVO project, a novel detector array, NOVCoDA (the NOVO Compact Detector Array) capable of simultaneous detection and imaging of secondary prompt gamma-rays and fast neutrons is being developed in an international effort funded by the EIC Pathfinder Open. In this project, within RAPTORplus, the candidate will further explore pre-clinical evaluations of NOVCoDA via in-silico models supplied with experimental data collected in clinically relevant proton beamlines. As part of these evaluations, the project will also explore use of advanced data analysis techniques based on Artificial Intelligence (e.g., deep learning techniques and multivariate regressions) to enhance the detection probability of range and dose deviations from the available detector data. 
The main objective of the project is the confirmation of range shift detection capabilities of NOVCoDA under pre-clinical conditions as well as unravelling NOVCoDA’s limitations in this regard. As an important part of the project, the clinical translation potential of NOVCoDA will be explored by comparison to the state-of-the-art systems that are based on the detection of secondary prompt gamma-rays, in particular, prompt gamma-ray imaging (PGI) and timing (PGT) systems.

Furthermore, through explorations of the capabilities of NOVCoDA as well as comparisons to PGI and PGT systems, the project will strengthen the ties between RAPTORplus and NOVO consortia.

For orientation, regarding project and institute description, please check existing pages under raptor-consortium.com/projects/.

Candidate’s profile

Required qualifications

• MSc in physics or engineering, ideally with a background in medical physics, radiation physics and/or nuclear engineering.
• Good understanding of radiation detection physics, especially pertaining to indirectly ionizing radiation (gamma-ray and neutron) interactions in organic scintillators.
• Some experience in preparing and running nuclear physics experiments.
• Familiarity with analyzing complex experimental and Monte Carlo simulated data to optimize the analysis of raw detector data in preparation for imaging.
• Proficiency in Monte Carlo simulations (MCNP, Geant4, FLUKA or PHITS) and programming languages (C/C++, Python and/or Fortran).
• Legally able to visit nuclear technology facilities and laboratories, participate in experiments involving radiation detection measurements (especially neutron detection).
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.

Desired qualifications (can be waived)

• Knowledge of proton therapy in general, and range verification techniques based on prompt gamma-ray and neutron imaging and detection.
• Familiarity with image reconstruction methods with particular emphasis on those methods used for nuclear and medical imaging.
• Understanding of data processing pipelines in nuclear physics experiments, including conversion of raw data from detectors in preparation for particle imaging.
• Experience in conducting research in a multidisciplinary environment.

Supervisors

Dr. Ilker Meric
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
E-mail: Ilker.meric@hvl.no 
Phone: +47 55 58 76 83 

Dr. Simona Giordanengo
Instituto Nazionale Di Fisica Nucleare (INFN),  Torino, Italy
E-mail: simona.giordanengo@to.infn.it 

Dr. Kristjan Anderle
Cosylab, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Email: kristjan.anderle@cosylab.com 
Phone: +386 1 477 66 76

Host institution and degree awarding institution

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences 
Workplace: Bergen
Address: Inndalsveien 28, 5063, Bergen, Norway
Link: www.hvl.no/en