CLOSED - Advanced X-Ray Imaging for Healthcare and Industry (23013)
Four Year Funded Studentship. Application Deadline: 10th June 2024
27 March 2024
Introduction:
A 4-year home fee funded PhD studentship (Home Fees, stipend and some funding for consumables) is available in the Department of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering (UCL Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering | Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering - UCL – University College London) and Mechanical Engineering (UCL Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering - UCL – University College London) in the area of advanced x-ray imaging. The successful candidate will join the CDT i4health.
Studentship Project Background:
These studentships are offered as part of the Advanced X-Ray Imaging Group (AXIm, https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-physics-biomedical-engineering/research/re...) activities, and in particular in association with Professor Sandro Olivo’s Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies (https://raeng.org.uk/ciet). While x-rays are considered an established and possibly “old” technology, AXIm are transforming them by relying on different physical principles and creating images based on changes in x-ray phase and on the microradian angular deviations affecting most x-rays exiting from an object, which are completely undetected by conventional systems. This is redefining the way in which x-rays can be used, as it allows the detection of the tiniest differences between materials and tissues that are traditionally considered inaccessible to x-rays.
The appointed students will join an existing cohort of >10 PhD students working on the development of new imaging technology at the interface between Industry and Academia, and with close end-user involvement. The successful candidates will have full access to world-leading labs, work at the cutting-edge of imaging, fabrication and algorithmic methods, spend time in industry, and participate in experiments at high-end facilities (e.g. synchrotrons). This will enable the development of translational and interdisciplinary skills, leading to high employability by Academia, scientific institutions and Industry.
The involved academic group has an internationally leading profile and an exceptional publication record. This project will provide opportunities for high-profile publications and conference presentations, and provide a wide range of opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations. The students will be trained to use and extend our modelling software in order to simulate new imaging systems and ultimately design and build them, and most importantly use them to detect previously invisible features in biomedical and industrial samples, which will also entail developing novel image analysis and reconstruction approaches.
Eligibility:
Funding is available to home students only (See here for Fee Status information). This application is open-ended and will be withdrawn as soon as all available positions have been filled. The anticipated start date will be up to October 2024.
Person Specification:
Applicants must have or expect to obtain a UK first class or 2:1 honours degree or the international equivalent in the appropriate area of physical science, as well as: experimental, mathematical and numerical skills; creative and critical thinking; excellent writing and oral communication skills; self-management and good working habits; capability to work independently and programming skills.
How to Apply
Application deadline: 10th June 2024.
- Make a formal application to UCL (Graduate and Affiliate Application Portal Search | Digital Experience | UCL) for the Research Degree Medical Physics and enter Advanced X-Ray Imaging for Healthcare and Industry (23013) under ‘Name of Award 1’.
- Send an expression of interest email to a.olivo@ucl.ac.uk, cdtadmin@ucl.ac.uk. Please use the subject title: Project Code 23013 and quote your UCL Application ID.
If shortlisted, you will be invited for an interview.
Application Process:
- After the deadline, all applicants that specified Project 23013 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.