Proton and ion-beam therapy have become established methods for cancer treatment in a growing number of facilities around the globe and have been available in Austria at MedAustron since 2016. Determining the dose to the irradiated tissue is an integral part of every treatment. Currently, the dose delivered during the irradiation process is mostly specified as energy deposited per unit mass. This is a macroscopic quantity and does not provide information on the interactions at the level of cellular structures, where energy deposition is heterogeneous, such as around the particle tracks of ion beams. Therefore, research to characterise the energy deposition at the microscopic level is pursued at MedAustron using microdosimeters. These are radiation detectors in which the dimensions of the sensitive volume are of the order of a few micrometers to simulate cell nuclei. Silicon and diamond microdosimeters as well as gas-filled tissue equivalent proportional counters have been in use regularly and are studied in an ongoing joint research project at MedAustron. 

The selected candidate will participate in ongoing research with experts from MedAustron and will investigate new methods and detectors for their application in microdosimetry with support from all involved partners.

Tasks:

• Support the microdosimetry activities of proton and carbon ion beams at MedAustron for medical application using various detectors (diamond, semiconductor and gaseous)
• Participation in beam times at MedAustron
• Development of a data analysis framework and a data acquisition system
• Monte Carlo simulation (Geant4 / GATE) for comparison with experimental results
• Day-to-day supervision of students
• Publication of scientific results and presentations at international conferences

Your profile:

• Master's degree in physics, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering or equivalent studies
• Ideally knowledge of solid-state particle detectors and associated readout electronics for applications in (micro-)dosimetry
• Knowledge in data analysis (Python, C++) and interest in Monte Carlo simulation (Geant4 / GATE)
• Interest in medical physics and ion-beam therapy
• Ability to work both in a team and independently, problem-solving skills and innovative thinking
• Interest in working with students and industrial partners
• Very good skills in English communication and writing, German communication and writing skills are of advantage

We offer:

• 30 hours/week employment at TU Wien (limited to 4 years)
• Interdisciplinary and exciting field of work with a lot of research cooperation where particle physics meets applications in medicine
• Completion of a doctoral degree at the internationally renowned TU Wien
• Continuing personal and professional education and flexible working hours
• A range of attractive social benefits (see Fringe-Benefit Catalogue of TU Wien)

Application online at https://jobs.tuwien.ac.at/Job/211944