PhD student in interferometric transmission imaging of the eye (M/F)

Job Description

Thesis Subject

The project aims to develop a new ophthalmic imaging technology, 4D optical transmission tomography (4D-OTT), able to visualise the immune cells and nerves of the human cornea in vivo, in 3D and over time. The goal is to characterise quantitatively the inflammatory state of the ocular surface, which is involved in many common pathologies (dry eye disease, keratitis, post-surgical inflammation, corneal graft rejection).

The PhD student will start from the transmission interference microscopy (TIM) developed in the laboratory and recently published in Nature Communications, and extend it along three lines: improved contrast and tomographic sectioning through phase control (a phase-contrast type approach); volumetric and dynamic imaging of the moving eye; data processing with neural networks (denoising, segmentation) and extraction of quantitative static and dynamic biomarkers.

The device will then be transferred to a clinical setting for a study on healthy subjects and patients, in collaboration with the Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital and the Institut de la Vision.

Candidate profile: Master's degree or engineering degree in optics, physics, photonics or biomedical engineering. Skills in experimental optics, ideally with hands-on experience of interferometry. Programming: practical command of Python or C/C++, management of development environments and version control (Git/GitLab). Instrumentation: practical experience in the control and synchronisation of devices (Arduino, LabVIEW/National Instruments). Knowledge of neural networks (U-Net type architectures) is welcome. Interest in instrumentation, image processing and interdisciplinary work with clinicians and biologists. Good command of scientific English.

Your Work Environment

The PhD student will be hosted at Institut Langevin (UMR7587, CNRS / ESPCI Paris-PSL / Sorbonne Université / Université Paris Cité), an internationally recognised laboratory in wave physics and biomedical imaging, located in central Paris (1 rue Jussieu, 75005).

The thesis is part of the 4D-OTT research project, at the interface between instrumental optics, data processing and clinical research. The student will have access to a fully equipped optics laboratory, a mechanical workshop and computing resources, and will work within a multidisciplinary team. The project builds on established collaborations with the Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital and the Institut de la Vision (Paris), where the prototype will be evaluated on human subjects and, in parallel, adapted to murine models.

The thesis offers an environment favourable to technology transfer (patent filings, industrial transfer) and to participation in international conferences.

Constraints and risks

Use of light sources (LEDs and low-power lasers) in compliance with the optical safety rules in force in the laboratory; ocular exposure levels are measured and comply with the standards applicable to ophthalmic devices.

Regular travel to the Paris partner sites (Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital, Institut de la Vision) for measurement campaigns, including participation in imaging sessions with healthy volunteers and patients, which implies working hours adapted to hospital activity.

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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