POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH SCHOLAR

A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Iowa. The successful candidate will participate in research projects focused on hyperpolarized xenon-129 (Xe-129) MRI-guided functional lung avoidance radiotherapy, with an emphasis on quantitative image analysis, treatment planning development, and the integration of functional lung imaging into MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy on the Elekta Unity MR-Linac.

The ideal candidate will have (or be soon completing) a doctoral degree in medical physics, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, computer science, or a related field. The candidate must be highly motivated with evidence of productivity from peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations. Candidates skilled in medical image analysis, deformable image registration, scientific programming (Python or MATLAB), and radiotherapy treatment planning are strongly encouraged to apply. Prior experience with quantitative MRI, hyperpolarized gas imaging, or functional lung imaging is a plus. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are desirable.

The successful candidate will be joining a multidisciplinary team of medical physicists, MRI scientists, radiation oncologists, and pulmonologists and will contribute to ongoing clinical research in functional lung avoidance radiotherapy. Primary responsibilities will include analysis of hyperpolarized Xe-129 MRI ventilation and gas exchange data; development of automated image processing and analysis pipelines; registration of functional maps to planning CT and MR images; development and evaluation of functional avoidance treatment planning strategies; and support of ongoing clinical trials, including data management and manuscript preparation. The candidate will have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art technologies including a hyperpolarizer, Siemens 3T Vida scanner with multi-nuclear capabilities, an Elekta Unity MR-Linac, and clinical treatment planning systems.

The initial appointment for this position is for two years. This position is available immediately and will begin at a mutually agreed upon date. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by sending their CV with cover letter stating their current and future research interests, previous research experience and expected availability date to Dr. Daniel Hyer (daniel-hyer@uiowa.edu).

Salary is based on years of experience after obtaining the Ph.D. degree and is determined by the Graduate College (https://grad.uiowa.edu/postdocs/salary). Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.

Education Requirements:

• Completion of Ph.D. in medical physics, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, computer science, or similar area of study.

Required Qualifications:

• Evidence of productivity from peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations.
• Proficiency in scientific programming (Python or MATLAB) for medical image analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

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