PhD Position Experimental Physics - Advanced Detector Development for Spectral Photon-Counting CT

Do you have experience in Signal processing?, Do you have a Master's degree?, * You hold an MSc degree in Physics, Applied Physics, or a closely related discipline.

• You demonstrate hands-on experimental experience across multiple stages, such as design, building, measurement, troubleshooting, and data analysis.

• You show creativity and enthusiasm to push the limits in imaging instrumentation.

• Your previous experience may be in a field different from CT imaging, but you have a clear affinity with topics such as experimental physics, instrumentation development, ionizing radiation physics, radiation detection, optics, electronics, data acquisition, and signal processing.

• You are motivated to publish scientific results, collaborate internationally, and complete a doctoral dissertation.

• You are specifically interested in developing imaging hardware and detector technology rather than image reconstruction or processing.

• You work proactively and independently, while contributing positively to an inclusive and collaborative research environment., * Your (expected) graduation date or MSc diploma, including academic transcripts and grades.

• MSc thesis summary and scientific output, if available (e.g. publications, technical reports, or experimental achievements).

We highly value thoughtful motivation letters that demonstrate commitment and genuine interest in this specific position. Reference checks are part of the selection procedure; we will request contact details at the interview stage and handle this transparently.

This position is part of the EU-funded project "QuPIX - Quantum-enhanced Perovskite crystal scintillators for Innovative X-ray photon counting in medical imaging" (HE/EIC Pathfinder Open 2025, project no. 101257367).

You can address your application to Dennis Schaart.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) represents the next leap in (medical) X-ray CT. It delivers images with astonishing contrast and resolution, while lowering the X-ray dose received by the patient. Moreover, the spectral capabilities of PCCT (also called "color" CT) enable quantitative imaging functions, such as measuring tissue composition or the concentration of contrast agents. Unfortunately, widespread use of PCCT is still limited by the high cost of current X-ray photon-counting detectors. You will work within the EU-funded QuPIX project, which aims to unlock the full potential of color CT by developing and validating a novel X-ray photon-counting detector based on quantum-enhanced perovskite scintillators and silicon photomultipliers. As a PhD student within the section Medical Physics & Technology (MP&T) at TU Delft, you will design, build, test, and optimise detector prototypes and demonstrate proof-of-concept performance. Your project spans the full experimental chain: prototype design, instrumentation development, experimental characterization, data acquisition, digital signal processing, troubleshooting, and theoretical modelling. During these activities, you will work closely with our technical support staff, such as electrical and mechanical engineers. The focus is on hardware development (not medical image reconstruction or processing). You will be part of the Medical Physics & Technology section in the Radiation Science & Technology department of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at TU Delft. We value quality in research and education as much as we value an open, safe, and inclusive working environment. Our mission is to develop better technologies for the personalized diagnosis and treatment of disease, focusing on radiation-based approaches in medical imaging, radiation oncology, and image-guided interventions. We execute this project as the Coordinator of the EIC Pathfinder Open project QuPIX. As a PhD student and participant in the QuPIX consortium, you will get a unique opportunity to collaborate with academic and industrial partners across Europe and contribute to a detector technology with the potential to revolutionize CT imaging worldwide., Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration. Challenge. Change. Impact! Faculty Applied Sciences With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.