PhD in Medical Radiation Physics: AI for Precision Radiotherapy of Spinal Metastases at Stockholm University

Job Description

Stockholm University’s Department of Physics is recruiting a PhD student in medical radiation physics to build AI tools for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) of spinal metastases. SBRT gives precise, high-dose treatment but carries risks such as vertebral compression fractures and damage to the spinal cord. The project develops deep learning for automated and interactive target delineation, models of how lesions change after treatment, prediction of outcomes and fracture risk, and a radiobiology-based framework for summing doses in re-irradiation.

At a glance

• Position: Doctoral student (1 post), four years full time
• Where: Department of Physics, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm
• Project contact: Assoc. Prof. Mehdi Astaraki, mehdi.astaraki@fysik.su.se
• Employment questions: Prof. Michael Odelius, odelius@fysik.su.se
• Reference: SU FV-2757-26
• Apply by: 28 September 2026
• Apply: 28 September 2026

About the AI radiotherapy PhD

• Develop deep learning for automated and interactive delineation of target volumes
• Build multimodal models of lesion changes after SBRT
• Develop prognostic models for clinical outcome and fracture risk
• Create a voxel-based, radiobiology-driven framework for cumulative dose summation and toxicity constraints in spinal re-irradiation

How doctoral employment works

Doctoral students are employed for up to the equivalent of four years of full-time study. The first contract is for up to one year and is then renewed for up to two years at a time, and up to 20% of working time may go to teaching, research or administration. Apply through the university’s recruitment system with a personal letter, a CV and the attachments the form asks for.

PhD applicants: browse our Find a supervisor directory to see who works in your area.

What Stockholm University is looking for

• General entry: a second-cycle degree, or 240 credits including 60 at second-cycle level, or equivalent knowledge
• Specific entry for Medical Radiation Physics: a second-cycle degree project of 30 credits in the subject area, or 60 credits of physics plus a 30-credit second-cycle project in another area
• English equivalent to Swedish English B, for example an English-taught degree, IELTS Academic 6.0 (no section below 5.0) or TOEFL iBT 79
• Requirements must be met by the application deadline

Nice to have

• Documented knowledge in a relevant research field
• Analytical and creative thinking, initiative, independence and ability to collaborate

Pay and location

Doctoral students at Stockholm University are employed on a fixed salary; the advert gives no figure. Contracts are renewed in steps up to four years of full-time study.

How to apply

Apply through the official Stockholm University page. The closing date is 28 September 2026.

See all our PhD positions, or browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.