PhD Student (f/m/d) - Onco Ray

PhD Student (f/m/d) - AI-based decision support for radiotherapy of brain tumours

OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology

This position is to be filled on February 1, 2026, as a part-time role with 30 hours per week and is limited until January 31, 2029. Compensation will be based on the classification regulations of the collective agreement for the public service (TV-L), with placement in pay group 13 possible if the personal requirements are met. 

Cancer treatment is becoming increasingly personalised, and radiotherapy—especially proton therapy—offers major potential to reduce side effects by precisely sparing healthy tissue. To help patients and clinicians fully benefit from these advances, intelligent tools are needed that clearly communicate treatment options and their expected consequences.

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to contribute to the development of an AI-based clinical decision-support system that predicts individual risks of treatment-related side effects, compares photon and proton therapy strategies, and supports shared decision making between clinicians and patients.

Needs all your skills – Your responsibilities:

• Develop and validate models predicting toxicities after brain tumour irradiation.
• Investigate model explainability, uncertainty, and out-of-distribution behaviour.
• Develop intuitive visualisations that communicate personalised risk predictions and treatment options.
• Help integrate predictive models into a functional decision-support system and support its evaluation in a clinical pilot phase.

The position is to be filled at the earliest possible date as a part-time appointment with 30 hours per week, limited to 36 months. Compensation will be based on TV-L E13 (75%). 

A perfect fit – Your profile: 

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Medical Physics, Biomedicical Engineering, Data Science, HCI, or related fields
• Strong programming skills (preferably Python)
• Experience in machine learning, explainable AI, usability engineering, or medical imaging
• Excellent communication skills and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary clinical research
• Very good command of English, both written and spoken 

Convincing in every respect – Our offer:

• Compensation: according to TV-L E13 (75%), plus an annual special payment and a company pension scheme
• Career and development: numerous internal and external training and development opportunities, e.g., through our Carus Academy
• Paid leave: 30 days of annual vacation
• Work–life balance: our Family Office provides advice and support in all life situations, including assistance with daycare placements near the clinic, holiday programs, or care for relatives
• Health: extensive sports and exercise offers in our state-of-the-art health center, as well as programs and counseling for mental health and comprehensive workplace health management