PhD scholarship in Clinical Assessments of Vestibular Balance Disorders and Rehabilitation – DTU Health Tech

Are you interested in combining clinical medicine and engineering to help create better healthcare for individuals suffering from vertigo? The Hearing Systems Section at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), together with the Ear, Nose, and Throat and Audiology Department at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, seeks a qualified candidate for a 3-year PhD position. This PhD project focuses on clinical assessments of patients with vertigo, with a focus on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The aim is to supplement existing diagnostic tools with more objective and valid estimates of balance assessment to improve decisions on relevant diagnostic pathways and treatment, as well as to facilitate more effective counselling and expectation management regarding balance rehabilitation.

The use of novel data handling techniques and artificial intelligence may provide better assessments of balance disorders, and expand the current clinical protocols used in diagnostic assessment. However, it is crucial to ensure the development will retain high clinical validity and accuracy, while contributing to a more ecologically valid value for the patients. The new more ecologically clinical tests lie in their potential ability to assess aspects of balance that are not captured with traditional diagnostic methods.

As a PhD student you will be joining a cross-disciplinary research team that is embedded inside of the Copenhagen Hearing and Balance Centre (CHBC) , whichis a center at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, dedicated to combining daily treatment of hearing and balance with world-class research through collaborations with the medico-technical industry and academic universities such as the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). As part of this project, you will be based at the hospital, where you will be integrated with the clinical balance assessment team. You will additionally be linked with the Hearing Systems Section at DTU Health Tech, and as such, be part of an internationally leading research group, who focuses on a range of hearing-related topics, including auditory signal processing and perception, computational auditory modelling, audiology, acoustics, and hearing aid and cochlear implant signal processing. CHBC and DTU Hearing Systems house outstanding facilities for balance research, including two multi-axial chairs and vestibular eye tracking systems at the CHBC, as well as advanced eye-tracking systems at DTU. 

Responsibilities and tasks 

• You will work in a team that develops novel clinical protocols for assessing vestibular balance disorders, focusing on methods that are more ecologically valid and patient centric.
• You will evaluate whether, and to what extent, the novel clinical protocols of vestibular assessment solve the existing clinical problems, such as, time efficiency and ease of use for clinical staff and patients alike, all while retaining a high level of accuracy.
• You will interface with clinicians and researchers to define clinically relevant protocols, coordinate patient recruitment, administer both novel and traditional diagnostic tests, analyse the results, and publish the outcomes in scientific journals.

Qualifications
Candidates should have:

• a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.
• very well-versed in health and medical science and have practical experience with designing experiments and conducting medical research.
• well-versed in python, or otherwise have a willingness and determination to learn, and have clinical experience, or a willingness and determination to learn about clinical practice.
• be curious about vestibular healthcare, and importantly, be passionate about bridging healthcare and engineering through translational research.
• experience within vestibular testing, balance assessment, or clinical research is a plus.
• enjoy working in a cross-disciplinary research field, be able to work independently, and communicate research in English. An ability to communicate in Danish is advantageous, but not a requirement.

Approval and Enrolment  
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Clinical Professor Måns Magnusson, Associate Professor Mads Klokker, and Professor Torsten Dau.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation, and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Rigshospitalet is a highly specialised hospital for all of Denmark, with treatment, research, innovation, and training at international level. Working with international healthcare stakeholders, Rigshospitalet contributes to developing the overall healthcare system so that all patients, irrespective of the rarity or complexity of their illness, receive high-quality treatment. ​​

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

The workplace is Copenhagen Hearing and Balance Centre (CHBC) at Rigshospitalet and DTU’s Lyngby Campus.

Further information  
Further information may be obtained from Måns Magnusson [email protected]  or Torsten Dau [email protected] .

You can read more about Copenhagen Hearing and Balance Centre  here  and about DTU Health Tech here.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure
Please submit your online application no later than the 31 May 2024 (23:59 Danish time) . Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Health Tech engages in research, education, and innovation base on technical and natural science for the healthcare sector. The Healthcare sector is a globally expanding market with demands for the most advanced technological solutions. DTU Health Tech creates the foundation for companies to develop new and innovative services and products which benefit people and create value for society. DTU Health Tech’s expertise spans from imaging and biosensor techniques, across digital health and biological modelling, to biopharma technologies. The department has a scientific staff of about 210 persons, 140 PhD students and a technical/administrative support staff of about 160 persons, of which a large majority contributes to our research infrastructure and related commercial activities.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.