DOCTORAL RESEARCHER position in MSCA Doctoral Network

Organisation/Company University of Turku Research Field Computer science » Other Engineering » Biomedical engineering Engineering » Other Medical sciences » Other Physics » Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 30 Nov 2026 - 14:00 (UTC) Country Finland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

PhD PROJECT - Effect of ischemic heart disease on multiorgan perfusion

Typeofcontract:Fixed-term
Duration:Threeyears(36months), starting 1.4.2027 or as agreed
JobStatus:Full-time

A highly innovative system, called long axial field of view (LAFOV) PET/CT, has become available and is the ideal medical imaging modality to study diseases and molecular processes at the whole body/systems biology level with multiple radiotracers. Studying diseases and diagnosing patients using PET/CT imaging should use a whole body/systems biology approach, i.e., a comprehensive whole-body characterization of disease, and it should be longitudinal and should use multiple radiotracers. However, LAFOV PET/CT is so new that we lack the necessary tools, methodologies, imaging procedures and skilled scientists to effectively address key applications in patient care and research. With the PREFERENCE project we aim to develop innovative LAFOV PET/CT methodologies to perform and support ground-breaking new clinical research.

PREFERENCE will train the next generation of researchers specialized in LAFOV PET/CT who will capitalize on the new clinical and research opportunities of the LAFOV PET/CT system. By performing research in both academia and industrial groups, researchers within PREFERENCE receive training in a unique combination of (soft) skills across disciplines and sectors. PREFERENCE will develop new LAFOV PET/CT methodologies, and perform LAFOV PET/CT clinical studies across disease areas to obtain novel biological insights. This project was selected by the EU as worthy of funding under the HE Marie Sklodowska Curie Action. The consortium consists of 12 academic partners with a strong expertise in quantitative (LAFOV) PET/CT imaging as well as industrial partners developing imaging equipment or providing multi-center image analysis solutions and services.

Description of the advertised position (DC 9)

This is a 3-y full time position as an doctoral candidate (DC) under the auspice of the MSCA DN programme.

The overall arching goal is to conduct hands-on LAFOV PET/CT clinical research aiming to increase the clinical applicability of LAFOV PET/CT in patient care while gaining new insights and knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of diseases. You will develop and evaluate methods how LAFOV PET/CT enables to measure perfusion simultaneously in all organs during a routine examination of myocardial perfusion. In addition, there is poissibility to expand your expertise to cardiovascular inflammation using a novel inflammatory tracer, 18-F-folate. You will investigate the systemic impact of atherosclerosis and myocardial ischemia due to coronary artery disease (CAD) on other organs and how these are linked to the sensations and experiences of the patient.

During your secondments to Regionhospitalet in Copenhagen, the University of Edinburgh and Siemens Healthineers, you will develop and evaluate methods evaluate methods for automated analysis for LAFOV perfusion studies, perform multi-organ multiparametric kinetic analysis and implement and evaluate parametric LAFOV imaging with reconstruction tools. Further, the project may include short-term visits to different PREFERENCE partners for data and software exchange.

General eligibility criteria

Mobility Rule: The fellow may not have resided in the country where the research training activities take place for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date (and not have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in that country).

Doctoral candidate: The fellow must be — at the date of recruitment — an ‘doctoral candidate’ (i.e. not have a doctoral degree).

Special requirements

• Successfully completed studies in Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Medicine and Health Biosciences (MSc degree or equivalent)
• Very good command of the English language (additional skills in Finnish will be of benefit)
• Good communication skills (a pre-requisite for cooperating in a multi-disciplinary environment)
• Willingness to travel and flexibility
• Technical skills will be of benefit
• Prior experience with medical imaging data will be of benefit
• Appropriate physical condition to work in a radiation protection control are