NOW CLOSED - Quantitative X-ray phase-contrast imaging
4-year PhD studentship funded by The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the i4health CDT and Nikon X-Tek Systems LTD - Now Closed
8 April 2022
Primary Supervisor: Prof Marco Endrizzi (UCL)
Secondary Supervisor: Wenjuan Sun (NPL) David Bate (Nikon X-Tek Systems LTD)
Project Summary
A 4 year funded PhD studentship is available in a partnership between the UCL Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-physics-biomedical-engineering/research/re...), the Dimensional Metrology Group at the National Physical Laboratory (https://www.npl.co.uk/dimensional)and Nikon X-Tek System Ltd (part of the Nikon Metrology group, https://www.nikonmetrology.com). Funding will be at least the UCL minimum.
Successful applicants will be awarded a stipend of £19,706 (tax free stipend) in line with all the other i4Health CDT applicants as well as fully funded fees at the UK level and a generous Research Training Grant for conference expenses.
The successful candidate will join the UCL CDT in Intelligent, Integrated Imaging in Healthcare (i4health) cohort and benefit from the activities and events organised by the centre. They will also have access to the AXIm laboratory facilities, including eight completely customizable optical benches, as well as commercial X-ray CT scanners. The successful candidate will also be supported and trained by experts at NPL, with access to the X-ray Computed Tomography facility and other related metrology equipment. They will also gain access to professional development opportunities, training and support offered through the Postgraduate Institute for Measurement Science (PGI).
Background
X-rays are unique for investigating bulky and opaque samples, as their broad use in medicine, security and non-destructive inspection demonstrates. X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) methods overcome the limitations of conventional radiography, especially for those samples exhibiting low absorption. Biological soft matter is mostly composed of low-Z elements, which do not absorb X-rays with high probability, but the capability of detecting phase distortions in the X-ray wavefront enables visualising details that would be otherwise X-ray-invisible. The Advanced X-ray Imaging Group (AXIm) has pioneered the development of compact XPCI systems, and a partnership with Nikon has built a first prototype, field deployed for intraoperative imaging of breast tissue. The image quality was vastly superior to the current clinical standards, however the interpretation of images remained largely qualitative and highly subject-dependent. Calibration and uncertainty evaluation are fundamental elements of instrument traceability and the National Physical Laboratory NPL is leading the development of X-ray CT for dimensional metrology at national and international levels. The creation of a metrology framework for XPCI micro-CT applied in the medical field would be a step change in the efforts to transform three-dimensional images into absolute measurements, where the instrument's bias, precision, and accuracy are known and characterised.
Research Aims
The successful candidate will develop models and techniques to merge the most advanced X-ray imaging techniques, providing unique sensitivity for soft-tissues and more in general low-Z materials, with a fully quantitative and traceable measurement methodology. Absolutely quantitative measurements will make possible, and meaningful, the comparison of samples across different experiments, different labs, and different points in time, shifting the way researchers, clinicians and developers look at specimens. These new approaches would provide a pathway for transforming X-ray micro-CT applications across a wide spectrum of applications, encompassing three-dimensional imaging of tissue in clinical applications, design and manufacturing and pre-clinical small-animal investigations.
Eligibility:
Candidates must have:
- A degree a subject area such as Physics, Medical Physics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Biomedical Engineering (concentration in imaging or medical devices), or a related field.
- Interest in developing hands-on experimental skills and working in a multidisciplinary laboratory is essential.
- A degree of familiarity with image processing and computer programming is desirable.
How to Apply:
Please complete the following steps to apply.
- Send an expression of interest and current CV to Dr Marco Endrizzi and cdtadmin@ucl.ac.uk. Please use the subject title: Project Code 22014
- Make a formal application to via the UCL application portal https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/apply . Please select the programme code MPhil Medical Imaging RRDMEISING01 and enter Quantitative X-ray phase-contrast imaging 22014 under ‘Name of Award 1’.
This studentship is strictly for those who pay Home fees. We cannot consider overseas students.
Application Process:
- After the deadline, all applicants that specified Project 22014 and with a Portico application will be considered for interview.
- Candidates will normally be invited for interview within two-weeks of the deadline. If you have not been contacted within this time-period, you have unfortunately not been successful in being shortlisted.
- The interview panel will normally consist of the supervision team on the project and the CDT Director.
- The interview will normally consist of a short presentation (5-10mins) by the candidate followed by questions from a panel.
- The successful candidate will be informed by email and given a week to confirm whether they wish to accept the PhD place and funding.
- Note that applications without specifying the project they are applying for and/or making a formal Portico application will be automatically rejected.
- Once accepted, a formal UCL offer of admission will be sent to the applicant as well as an offer of studentship funding.