Ph.D. student in medical physics (M/F)

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Title : Deep-learning for nuclear data in physics for health

This PhD project aims to improve the modeling of nuclear reactions for health-related applications, with a particular focus on particle therapy and space radiation protection. In both fields, secondary particles produced during nuclear interactions contribute significantly to the dose delivered to biological tissues. Monte Carlo simulations, especially those based on the Geant4 toolkit, rely on hadronic models whose predictive accuracy is still limited by discrepancies with experimental data.
The project proposes to enhance the predictive power of these models by integrating deep-learning techniques. It builds on the DINo (Deep-learning Intelligence for Nuclear reactiOns) algorithm, developed within the DeSIS research team, which combines experimental measurements and simulated data to improve predictions of secondary particle production cross sections. High-quality data collected through the international CLINM and FOOT collaborations will be used to train and validate the models for nuclear reactions relevant to particle therapy and the space radiation environment.
The PhD work will focus on extending DINo to additional nuclear systems and progressively integrating it into the Geant4 Monte Carlo framework in collaboration with the Geant4 consortium. The PhD student will also participate in ion-beam experiments at major European facilities (CNAO, GSI, GANIL, and CAL) and work within the international FOOT and Geant4 collaborations.
By combining experimental nuclear physics, artificial intelligence, and Monte Carlo simulations, the project aims to deliver more reliable nuclear models for medical and space applications while contributing to the next generation of data-driven hadronic models.

Your Work Environment

The thesis will be affiliated with the Doctoral School of Physics and Physical Chemistry at the University of Strasbourg (ED182) and will be conducted at the laboratory IPHC.

The Hubert Curien pluridisciplinary Institute (IPHC, UMR 7178), a joint research unit co-supervised by the CNRS and the University of Strasbourg (UMR7178), is a multidisciplinary laboratory where research teams from different scientific backgrounds (ecology, physiology and ethology, chemistry and subatomic physics) develop top-level programs based on scientific instrumentation. The IPHC is organized into 3 departments and has a total staff of 393 (M/F), including 257 permanent employees (119 researchers and teacher-researchers and 138 engineers and technicians M/F), 46 employees on fixed-term contracts and 102 PhD students M/F.
The PhD student's work will take place in the IPHC DeSIS group on the CNRS Cronenbourg campus. The candidate will be supervised by Dr. Marie Vanstalle (marie.vanstalle@iphc.cnrs.fr).
The candidate will have access to a staff restaurant, partial reimbursement of transportation costs, a works council, the possibility of teleworking one to two days per week for some activities, subject to the agreement of the CMS team manager, and training to adapt to the job.

The candidate should hold a master's degree in subatomic or medical physics, and must have experience in C++ or Python programming. Knowledge in nuclear physics detectors and in data analysis, as well as experience in Monte Carlo simulations would be a plus. A good level in English (at B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.
The international, multidisciplinary and collaborative context of this project requires that the candidate has a strong motivation, curiosity to expand his area of expertise, autonomy and ability to work in a team with strong constraints to meet deadlines.
Applications must include a CV, a cover letter, and transcripts from Master's 1 and 2.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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