PhD Student – AI-Driven Image Quality Improvements for Radiotherapy Guidance of Moving Targets

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate with a strong scientific interest in radiation oncology and AI, and an eagerness and skills to succeed both in technical research and clinical application.

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To maximize the accuracy of treatment delivery, the treatment plan must be adapted to the daily patient anatomy. Cone-beam CT is the widely available in-room imaging modality, but its image quality is severely compromised by respiratory motion. In this project, we aim to improve cone-beam CT image quality to enable daily plan adaptation for patients with lung cancer.

Key responsibilities include:

• Improve algorithms to extract robust, reliable and physiologically plausible respiratory motion signals for respiratory image sorting;

• Select and fine-tune AI-based cone-beam CT reconstruction algorithms for respiratory-correlated reconstruction;

• Develop deformable image registration algorithms for 4D motion estimation;

• Optimize motion-compensated image quality;

• Present your work at international conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.

This PhD position within the Sonke research group is embedded in a larger, collaborative project focused on AI-driven personalization of lung cancer radiotherapy. The project brings together multiple PhD candidates and researchers working on complementary research topics in close interaction.

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student. Successful candidates typically bring a combination of the following:

• A Master’s degree in (bio)medical sciences, technical medicine, physics, mathematics, biomedical engineering, computer science, AI, or a related field;

• Solid analytical and problem-solving skills;

• Strong interest in the application of AI in the context of medical imaging;

• Curiosity, creativity, and the ambition to develop independent research skills;

• Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment;

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Your development opportunities and employment conditions              

The basis for your employment conditions is in accordance with the CLA Hospitals. You will receive from us:

• A contract for a period of four years, for 36 hours per week;

• A gross monthly salary between € 3.738,- and € 4.539,- based on a 36-hour working week, in line with the OIO scale and depending on your experience (in accordance to the CLA of February 2026);

• 144 holiday hours and 57 hours of Personal Life Budget, with full-time employment;

• Annual holiday pay of 8.33% and a fixed end-of-year bonus of 8.33%;

• A travel allowance of €0.23 per km;

• Free parking at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. And with our bicycle plan and discount on public transport we also make it attractive for you to leave the car at home;

• An active PhD council;

• Opportunity to exercise during working hours at our Fit Boutiqs.

This position also offers a variety of professional development opportunities:

• A challenging and ambitious PhD project on advanced clinical application of AI in radiation oncology;

• Supervision and mentorship by leading experts in the field;

• A stimulating, collaborative, and international research environment at some of Europe’s top cancer and medical AI centers.

Interested?

Apply now by using the apply/solliciteer button at the top of the page. Please attach your motivation letter, CV and contact details of two references to the application form. Make sure to include your reference information together with your application documents, as there is no option to submit them separately. Applications sent directly by e-mail will not be processed.

The vacancy is open for applications until the 6th of February 2026. During the publication period, applications will be handled continuously.

For further information about the position, please contact Dr. Astrid van der Horst, (a.vd.horst@nki.nl).

For questions about the application procedure, please contact Daphne Heemskerk, (d.heemskerk@nki.nl).

The Sonke research group aims to develop and clinically validate adaptive radiotherapy strategies to individualize treatment. The group is a multi-disciplinary team consisting of physicists, physicians, biomedical engineers and computational scientists and closely collaborates with the clinic.