Vacancy PhD candidate 'Prospective breast cancer screening trial for optimized mammography interpretation with AI assistance'

Job description

We are looking for a PhD candidate who is eager to contribute to a prospective breast cancer screening trial focused on optimizing mammography interpretation with AI assistance.

In this project, we will perform a prospective trial at the Dutch Breast Cancer Screening Program to determine the impact on screening performance when optimizing the radiologist’s interpretation. This trial will involve two rounds of screening for 84,000 women and will leverage new knowledge that has been generated in a prior laboratory-setting project. Specifically, we will integrate recent advances in artificial intelligence-based automated interpretation of medical images, and new knowledge on the human visual system into the screening mammography reading process.

Combining these new capabilities and new knowledge has the potential to radically change and improve the performance of breast cancer screening, allowing for an increase in the early detection of cancer, while reducing the rate of false alarms. As a result, we envision that large regional and national screening programs, like the Dutch National Breast Cancer Screening Program will become more effective and efficient.

The AXTI (Advanced X-ray Tomographic Imaging) laboratory of the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at Radboudumc works closely with breast screening radiologists and industry to develop new and improve existing methods and processes in screening breast imaging. Our direct connection with the Dutch Expert Centre for Screening (LRCB) ensures and maximizes the relevance and applicability of our developments.

In addition, in this project we will work together with experts in human visual perception, AI-based interpretation of images, breast cancer screening, and screening workflow. Finally, we will work closely with industrial partners that are involved in every aspect of breast cancer image interpretation in screening, including AI, image analysis, image display, and workflow.

Tasks will consist of setting up and aiding in the execution of a prospective screening trial at various screening centers of the Dutch Breast Cancer Screening Program, including analysis of large data sets of screening interpretation outcomes and of survey results, as well as presenting and writing papers on the study results.

Place of work

The Department of Medical Imaging is one of the most active research departments of the Radboudumc. More than 100 researchers are continuously striving to optimize healthcare. Close cooperation between preclinical researchers, radiologists and cardiologists gives a fantastic opportunity to implement new imaging techniques in clinical practice, and you will be working directly in this field. For the last three years, the Department has been rated as 3^rd best in the world for research among radiology departments.

Advanced X-ray Tomographic Imaging laboratory
The AXTI laboratory is focused on the development, optimization, and clinical evaluation of new x-ray-based imaging methods. The lab focuses on the use of medical physics approaches to improve image acquisition methods and processing algorithms, and to evaluate the clinical performance of new technology in new clinical applications. The group counts with wide-ranging expertise in image processing, reconstruction, and analysis, as well as observer studies, screening, radiation dosimetry, along with the design and performance of patient trials. 

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where scientific breakthroughs are born through the curiosity and passion of our collaborating researchers in a vibrant environment. We believe trust and excitement are crucial elements to achieving our goals, and we approach our research as teams and with the utmost rigor to make a significant impact on health and healthcare. Our researchers are driven by their fascination with the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms underlying health and healthcare. They collaborate with partners from all over the world to improve health outcomes for all. Radboudumc unites patient care, research, education, and corporate learning, which allows us to approach our mission to shape the health and healthcare of the future in an innovative and person-centered way.

Our ambition is to lead the way in the pursuit of prevention, sustainability, meaningful care. We believe that through our research, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of society. Join us on our mission to make a difference in healthcare. Become a part of our community of gifted researchers, professionals or patient partners who are dedicated to making a real impact on population health and healthcare. 

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.

Profile

You should be a creative and enthusiastic researcher with an MSc in epidemiology, biomedical sciences, technical medicine, psychology, or similar. Moreover you have:

• Experience or interest in radiology and/or medical imaging and affinity with biomedical research.
• Experience with SPSS, SAS, or R is required.
• Excellent communication skills and fluent in Dutch and English, both written and spoken.

Employment conditions

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• Upon commencement of employment, you will start at scale 10A, step 0 (€ 3.108 based on a full-time appointment). Over a maximum period of 4 years, you will progress to scale 10A, step 3 (€3.939 based on a full-time appointment). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a 47% to 72% bonus for working unsocial hours.
• 176 vacation hours per year based on a 36-hour working week. 

And there is more..

• An Employment Conditions Selection Model, allowing you to use part of your employment conditions to your choosing. For example, you can use your gross salary to purchase additional vacation hours or hours for providing informal caregiving. Or, for example, you can use your gross end-of-year bonus to purchase a bicycle, so you pay less tax.
• Plenty of opportunities for personal development. You can take a variety of courses in our online learning environment. 
• Your well-being and vitality are a priority. For example:
  • Save time for work-life balance leave. 
  • You can enjoy unlimited access to a variety of activities five days a month and take advantage of all the facilities at Radboud Sport & Culture for only €27.05 per month (instead of €41)
  • Healthy Professionals program to help you manage your energy. 
  • Company Support Team and a personal coach if you are going through a life-changing event.
  • Financially beneficial working less through a Generation Scheme as you approach state pension age.
• Support in achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. Examples:
  • Advice and courses on, for example, 'Millennial dilemmas' and 'Your Career After 57'.
  • Activities at our own mindfulness center.
  • Informal caregiving consultations if you have questions about juggling work and caregiving responsibilities at home.
• In addition to statutory pregnancy and maternity leave, Radboud university medical center offers 26 weeks of parental leave, nine of which are paid. In addition, as a partner you can take a maximum of five weeks of supplementary partner leave. During supplementary partner leave and parental leave, we supplement the UWV benefit up to 100% of your salary.
• Pension accrual at the ABP Pension Fund. Radboud university medical center pays 70% of the pension premium. 
• Discounts on supplementary packages of two group health insurances and ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• An allowance for your commuting costs of € 0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km one way. If you use public transport to commute, we will fully reimburse the public transport costs (2nd class). If you regularly work from home, you will receive a working from home allowance of € 2.40 per day.

Application procedure

Are you ready to think further for our patients and our care? We would like to receive your application: CV, letters of recommendation, list of completed courses and grades, a letter of motivation, and reprints or, preferably, links to your thesis or any scientific publications or reports in English that you have written before 1 October 2025. We will then contact you shortly. The job interviews take place on 21 October 2025. We would appreciate it if you would take this into account.

Good to know

• This position requires a Certificate of Conduct (VOG).
• You can find more information about our application procedure and frequently asked questions on our website.
• Will you be our new colleague? Then you will be given the time and space to get to know your role, your workplace, and your colleagues. An induction day for all new colleagues is an integral part of your onboarding program. 

We are recruiting for this position ourselves. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated, but do feel free to share the vacancy in your network!

Contact

Any questions? Or wondering what it is like to work at Radboudumc? Then email to Prof. Ioannis Sechopoulos. Use the Apply button to submit your application.