Job offer: Research Assistant at BMFTR-funded project “UncovRT”

0201 723 6600

Job offer: Research Assistant at BMFTR-funded project “UncovRT”

Apply now!

We are seeking a PhD candidate in the field of computational medical physics (75%, TV-L E13, 3 years) to join our BMF TR-funded research project on molecular mechanisms of side effects after cranial proton therapy.

from 1 August 2026

The project will assess neurocognitive and neurovascular late effects in pediatric proton therapy. UncovRT: Uncover molecular mechanisms of side effects after cranial Radiation Therapy to improve quality of life for long term survivors of brain cancer.

Specifically, we plan to refine and expand the existing predictive models for contrast-enhancing lesions in pediatric patients with brain tumors who have undergone proton therapy. The research will be conducted within the framework of a national consortium. The opportunity to pursue a doctorate is offered. The doctorate is embedded in medical and medical physics research at the WPE and in the regional research landscape of the Ruhr universities, in particular the DFG-funded research training group 3043 AMTEC-PRO – Advanced Methods and Technologies for Proton Therapy.

Apply now!

West German Proton Therapy Centre Essen

Am Mühlenbach 1, 45147 Essen

Job Scope: 75 Percent

Start: 01.08.2026

Working at the University Medical Centre Essen

As a maximum-care university hospital with a capacity of around 1,300 beds, we treat 225,000 patients a year with over 6,000 employees in 26 clinics, 23 institutes and specialist centres. Our hospital offers medical care, state-of-the-art diagnostics and comprehensive treatment to the highest international standards. In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of research and teaching services at an internationally competitive level.

Working in the heart of the Ruhr region

In Essen, in the heart of the Ruhr region and the green capital of Europe in 2017, the WPEs Particle Therapy Clinic offers a challenging field of work in the application of state-of-the-art proton therapy for the effective yet particularly gentle treatment of tumor diseases. Since 2013, the WPE has been successfully treating outpatients with CNS tumors, head and neck tumors, sarcomas, prostate carcinomas and childhood tumors with proton therapy. Since its opening, the WPE has acquired an excellent reputation recognized worldwide. Numerous collaborations at national and international level are proof of the high therapeutic and scientific standard of our work. The result: our patients come to us in Essen not only from all over Germany, but also from many other European and non-European countries. That is why we are looking for you to join our team.

Working at WPE

At our West German Proton Therapy Centre Essen (WPE), under the direction of Prof. Beate Timmermann, we offer state-of-the-art radiation therapy for tumor diseases using protons. The centerpiece of the facility is a 230 MeV cyclotron. The four treatment rooms contain three gantries that can be rotated through 360 degrees and a fixed-beam room with 2 fixed beam lines. Each of the rotating gantries weighs approximately 120 tons and yet ensures an accuracy of up to 0.25 degrees. The Pencil Beam Scanning method (PBS) and a state-of-the-art therapy planning system are used for Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT). This means that the entire craniospinal axis (CSA, includes the brain and spinal canal) can be routinely irradiated in the WPE for tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). The availability of IMPT also enables a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) – i.e. simultaneous boost irradiation.