PhD Positions in Mathematical and Biomedical                  

PhD-student Positions in Mathematical and Biomedical Engineering at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

Location: Department of Electrical Engineering, Division ESAT-SCD, research group BioMed, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium:

http://www.esat.kuleuven.be/sista/members/biomed/

Research group.
The BIOMED team within the ESAT-SCD division consists
of 1 staff member, 3 postdocs, 11 PhD students. Research - fundamental/theoretical as well as application oriented - is performed in the domain of (multi)linear algebra, (non)linear signal analysis, classification and system identification with special focus to the development of numerically reliable and robust algorithms
for the extraction of clinically, biochemically or pharmaceutically relevant information (e.g. metabolite concentrations in the brain) out of low-quality multi-channel measurements in order to enable an improved medical diagnosis.

In this domain the group has built up an international reputation. Applications under study are: quantification of metabolite concentrations using in-vivo Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic (MRS) data and images, quantification of brain oxygenation in neonates using (functional)
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, quantification of cardiovascular dynamics and auto-regulation, detection of somato-sensory evoked potentials in EEG, preoperative classification of (brain, ovarian, breast, prostate) tumours, prediction/detection of epileptic seizures based on scalp-EEG monitoring.

Three PhD positions.
We seek one of more outstanding graduate students for the following multidisciplinary research projects:

1. Numerical algorithms for tensor decompositions and tensor based signal
processing with applications in epileptic seizure detection;
2. Advanced signal processing for data fusion of multimodal information acquired simultaneously (such as EEG, ECG, EMG, EOG, (functional) MR Imaging, PET and SPECT) with applications in neonatal intensive care monitoring;
3. Integration of EEG and functional MR Imaging with applications in monitoring
cognitive disorders in patients with MS and ADHD.

The research is done in a multidisciplinary environment in strong collaboration with the appropriate divisions in the University Hospitals K.U.Leuven. All positions are immediately vacant. The PhD work will be supervised by Prof. Sabine Van Huffel.

Profile:
We are particularly seeking candidates with a Master-of-Science degree in biomedical, electrical, computer science or mathematical engineering, in bioengineering or in mathematics, and with strong interests in optimization, signal processing, statistics, numerical computations, and biomedical applications. The ability to become acquainted with new methods within short time and good familiarity with scientific tools like MATLAB programming and statistical analysis are appreciated. The chosen candidate will be an enthusiastic person and initiator with good communication skills and a good knowledge of English.

Application:
To apply, please send a CV and a cover letter before June 15, 2007 to Prof. Sabine Van Huffel sabine.vanhuffel@esat.kuleuven.be ) Information: The salary will be assigned according to the Belgian university salary system. The PhD-student appointment is for the duration of four years.