Marie Skłodowska Curie (MSCA) Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN)
Applications are invited for 1 full-time Doctoral Researcher position at the Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Finland.
PhD PROJECT - Effect of ischemic heart disease on multiorgan perfusion
Type of contract: Fixed-term
Duration: Three years (36 months), starting 1.4.2027 or as agreed
Job Status: Full-time
A highly innovative system, called long axial field of view (LAFOV) PET/CT, has become available and is the ideal medical imaging modality to study diseases and molecular processes at the whole body/systems biology level with multiple radiotracers. Studying diseases and diagnosing patients using PET/CT imaging should use a whole body/systems biology approach, i.e., a comprehensive whole-body characterization of disease, and it should be longitudinal and should use multiple radiotracers. However, LAFOV PET/CT is so new that we lack the necessary tools, methodologies, imaging procedures and skilled scientists to effectively address key applications in patient care and research. With the PREFERENCE project we aim to develop innovative LAFOV PET/CT methodologies to perform and support ground-breaking new clinical research.
PREFERENCE will train the next generation of researchers specialized in LAFOV PET/CT who will capitalize on the new clinical and research opportunities of the LAFOV PET/CT system. By performing research in both academia and industrial groups, researchers within PREFERENCE receive training in a unique combination of (soft) skills across disciplines and sectors. PREFERENCE will develop new LAFOV PET/CT methodologies, and perform LAFOV PET/CT clinical studies across disease areas to obtain novel biological insights. This project was selected by the EU as worthy of funding under the HE Marie Sklodowska Curie Action. The consortium consists of 12 academic partners with a strong expertise in quantitative (LAFOV) PET/CT imaging as well as industrial partners developing imaging equipment or providing multi-center image analysis solutions and services.
Description of the advertised position (DC 9)
This is a 3-y full time position as an doctoral candidate (DC) under the auspice of the MSCA DN programme.
The overall arching goal is to conduct hands-on LAFOV PET/CT clinical research aiming to increase the clinical applicability of LAFOV PET/CT in patient care while gaining new insights and knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of diseases. You will develop and evaluate methods how LAFOV PET/CT enables to measure perfusion simultaneously in all organs during a routine examination of myocardial perfusion. In addition, there is poissibility to expand your expertise to cardiovascular inflammation using a novel inflammatory tracer, 18-F-folate. You will investigate the systemic impact of atherosclerosis and myocardial ischemia due to coronary artery disease (CAD) on other organs and how these are linked to the sensations and experiences of the patient.
During your secondments to Regionhospitalet in Copenhagen, the University of Edinburgh and Siemens Healthineers, you will develop and evaluate methods evaluate methods for automated analysis for LAFOV perfusion studies, perform multi-organ multiparametric kinetic analysis and implement and evaluate parametric LAFOV imaging with reconstruction tools. Further, the project may include short-term visits to different PREFERENCE partners for data and software exchange.
General eligibility criteria
Mobility Rule: The fellow may not have resided in the country where the research training activities take place for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment date (and not have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in that country).
Doctoral candidate: The fellow must be — at the date of recruitment — an ‘doctoral candidate’ (i.e. not have a doctoral degree).
Special requirements
- Successfully completed studies in Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Medicine and Health Biosciences (MSc degree or equivalent)
- Very good command of the English language (additional skills in Finnish will be of benefit)
- Good communication skills (a pre-requisite for cooperating in a multi-disciplinary environment)
- Willingness to travel and flexibility
- Technical skills will be of benefit
- Prior experience with medical imaging data will be of benefit
- Appropriate physical condition to work in a radiation protection control area
Right to pursue a doctoral degree
The selected candidate must obtain the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the Faculty of Medicine and be approved by the Doctoral Programme of Clinical Research (DPCR) before the employment can be confirmed, unless the applicant already holds a valid doctoral study right.
Benefits
We offer you responsible and interesting tasks and the opportunity to develop your professional skills in a versatile operating environment. You get a professional and inspiring team to support your work. We take care of your well-being at work and the functionality of your everyday life, e.g. with the help of flexible working hours and our well-being services.
- Possibilities to develop your expertise – We encourage our personnel to develop their professional expertise by offering versatile training and competence development possibilities which employees can take advantage of during their working hours. Also, the course offering of Open University is free of charge for our personnel.
- Your well-being is important to us! – In addition to comprehensive occupational health care, our own well-being services monitor, support and develop the well-being of our personnel. You are entitled to use the CampusSport’s services at a personnel price.
- We support your work-life balance – Flexible working hours and extensive remote work options help you balance work and leisure time.
- An inspiring and supportive work community – We encourage each other and value working together!
Please read more about University of Turku as an employer from our Come work with us! pages.
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Salary and trial period
You will be appointed as fulltime PhD candidate for 3 years. The successful candidate will receive a salary in accordance with the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, that includes a gross living allowance of 4010 EUR/month (correction factor to be applied for Finland), a monthly mobility allowance of 710 EUR and depending on your familiar status, a family monthly allowance of 660 EUR. Please note that these amounts include taxes and compulsory employer contributions that will be deducted to make the net salary. The exact net salary will be confirmed upon appointment. The total salary is about 3500 EUR per month in the beginning and may increase with improved expertise.
Note: The monthly gross salary may vary somewhat in different years, as side costs change.
The position has a trial period of six months.
How to apply
Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 30 November, 2026 at 16.00 EEST.
Please write your application and accompanying documents in English.
Full applications should include
- A motivation letter
- A Europass CV (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/documents/curriculum-vitae)
- Copies of your relevant certificates
- Contact details of two references
Further information
PREFERENCE: https://preference-consortium.eu/
Turku PET Centre: Home - Turku PET Centre
Recruitment process
After assessing compliance with the mobility rule and eligibility for the position based on your CV and motivation letter you might be invited for several online or in-person interviews. Selection of the candidates and invitation for the interviews will be done by the local (host) supervisory team. These interviews will be performed by the local (host) supervisory team as well as an international scientific mentor from the network and, possibly, one of the scientific advisors. Information on your application will be shared with the coordinator of the consortium for centralized coordination and registration of the recruitment process. Information on the exact employment conditions will be provided by the host institution and can also be found on their job announcement board, information on salary (gross and net salary, social security benefits etc) will be communicated during the interview and upon appointment by the host institution.
