PhD position, machine learning, data mining, information retrieval ,Darmstadt,Germany

Open PhD position at the newly founded Knowledge Mining and Assessment Group (Prof. Ulf Brefeld, http://www.uni-bonn.de/~brefeld/) at Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany.

The position's focus will be on machine learning, data mining, and information retrieval, particularly on unsupervised information extraction and aggregation. Duties and responsibilities include teaching as well as academic research. The group closely collaborates with the German Institute for International Educational Research (DIPF) in Frankfurt/Main (http://www.dipf.de) and is part of the research initiative for Knowledge Discovery in the Web (http://www.werc.tu-darmstadt.de/).

Requirements:
The candidate should have or expect to obtain a MSc or equivalent in computer science, mathematics, or physics.

Desirable skills:
* profound knowledge of kernel machines, structured input-output spaces, graphical models, and probabilistic inference
* strong mathematical skills
* practical experience with automatic web crawlers
* expertise in natural language processing and information extraction
* practical experience of processing data at internet scales using Hadoop/MapReduce
* strong programming skills
* good written and spoken communication skills in German or English.

The position is a fixed-term contract with an option to extend it, provided certain conditions are met. We offer the possibility of further scientific qualification towards a doctoral degree. The salary is based on TV-TU Darmstadt (standard for employees at TU Darmstadt). A part-time working arrangement is possible.

The Department of Computer Science of TU Darmstadt is regularly ranked among the best in Germany. We invite applications from women and people with disabilities. More informations (in German): http://www.intern.tu-darmstadt.de/dez_vii/stellen/stellen_details_80832.de.jsp

Inquiries should be directed to stegmann@tk.informatik.tu-darmstadt.de. Applications (reference number 351) should be addressed to the Dean of the Department of Computer Science, Hochschulstr. 10, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany. Deadline: September 23.

2 PhD positions available in Heidelberg,Germany

2 PhD positions available
(Duration 36 months)

“A novel imaging technique for ion beam therapy: Ion Computed Tomography”
is a joint project between the Heidelberg University Hospital/Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (Prof. Dr. Oliver Jäkel), the Ludwig Maximilians University Munich (Prof. Dr. Katia Parodi), and the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung Darmstadt (Dr. Bernd Voss) granted by the German Research Foundation (DFG) starting on November the 1st, 2012.

Project and position descriptions
The goal of the project is to develop a method for time-resolved imaging of transmitted energetic ion beams in view of several possible future clinical applications at the Heidelberg Ion beam Therapy center (HIT). These include pre-treatment verification of residual ion beam range for tumors in stationary and moving anatomical locations. In the latter case, additional intra-treatment operation is envisioned to provide valuable information on the magnitude of range uncertainties in the motion cycle close in time to the therapeutic irradiation. Finally, pre-treatment tomographic recovery of the stopping power maps of the traversed tissue will be pursued as a means to evaluate range uncertainties in conventional treatment planning based on X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) imaging. The possibility to replace the X-ray CT patient model and thus to eliminate the current major source of range uncertainty in ion beam treatment planning will also be investigated.
This work will realize and experimentally validate a new generation, compact and fully integrated range telescope system based on a stack of ionization chambers (IC) for pencil-beam range probing (1D) as well as planar (2D) and volumetric (3D) imaging. It will include time-resolved (4D) operation for synchronization not only with the dynamic beam delivery but also with the movement of the target itself as monitored by external motion sensors.
The planned experimental investigations will enable evaluation of the clinical potential of the method in comparison to the nowadays used imaging techniques such as post-radiation PET (Positron Emission Tomography) /CT imaging with respect to the ultimate goal of promoting high precision ion beam therapy.

The project will be carried out by a post doc and two PhD students. The first PhD student together with the post doc will be located at HIT/LMU (Ludwig Maximilians University Munich) and will mainly work on integration of the hardware being developed at GSI into the HIT environment, on the performance and interpretation of the experimental investigations with feedback to the hardware development at GSI, and on the image reconstruction part. A PhD at the faculty for physics in Heidelberg or Munich is aimed for. The second PhD student will be located at GSI and will mainly work on the development and fine tuning of the whole detector system, but will also frequently be at HIT to support the integration of the system and the experimental investigations. A PhD at the faculty for physics in Darmstadt is aimed for. The post doc will supervise both thesis and coordinate the project.

PhD profiles and requirements:

General requirements:
•       good understanding of electromagnetic and nuclear physical processes which are relevant to ion transport and interaction in matter
•       prior experience in ion beam therapy and imaging techniques is favourable
•       experience in software programming, preferably C/C++, C sharp, Java, and Python, and Linux and Windows operating system
•       additional experience in experimental activities and data analysis is favourable
•       technical proficiency, scientific creativity, fast adaptation to new problems and fruitful collaboration with international and multidisciplinary working team
•       fluent in English (spoken and written)

Specific requirements:

1st PhD Position:
-graduated physicist, a graduated engineer may also qualify, depending on the specialization and experience
- good knowledge and experience in electronics and signal processing
- good knowledge and experience in building software interfaces

2nd PhD Position:
- graduated physicist, a graduated engineer may also qualify, depending on the specialization and experience
- good knowledge and experience in the development of detector-hardware
- good knowledge and experience on electronics and signal processing
- good knowledge and experience in building software interfaces

How to apply:
Please send your application including a letter of motivation, certificates and a CV until September the 30th, 2012 to (electronic applications in pdf-format preferred):

1st PhD Position
Prof. Dr. Oliver Jaekel, oliver.jaekel@med.uni-heidelberg.de
and
Prof. Dr. Katia Parodi, katia.parodi@physik.uni-muenchen.de

A printed application should also be sent to:
Project Application DFG z.Hd. Roswitha Vay-Meyer
Heidelberger Ionenstrahl-Therapie Centrum HIT Betriebs-GmbH am Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
Im Neuenheimer Feld 450
69120 Heidelberg
Deutschland

2nd PhD Position
Dr. Bernd Voss, b.voss@gsi.de

A printed application should also be sent to:
Project Application DFG z.Hd. Roswitha Vay-Meyer
Heidelberger Ionenstrahl-Therapie Centrum HIT Betriebs-GmbH am Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
Im Neuenheimer Feld 450, 69120 Heidelberg, Deutschland
and
GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH
Abteilung Personal- und Sozialwesen
Planckstrasse , 64291 Darmstadt, Deutschland

For further information please contact:
Dr. Ilaria Rinaldi, Tel: +49 (0)6221 56 38132, Email: ilaria.rinaldi@med.uni-heidelberg.de

Postdoctoral position in "Analysis of nanocrystalline materials via X-ray diffractionâ (Thun, Schweiz)

Empa is the interdisciplinary research and services institution

for material sciences and technology development of the ETH Domain.

Our Laboratory for Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures at
Empa's location in Thun, Switzerland, is offering a

Postdoctoral position in "Analysis of nanocrystalline materials
via X-ray diffraction”

We are looking for a researcher with a recent PhD in Physics,
Chemistry or Materials Science. Research is conducted in an
international environment and in cooperation with several
industrial and academic partners and is mainly funded by
long-term European and national projects. The successful
candidate will generally assist in the synthesis of new
nanocrystalline bulk materials and thin films and explore their
microstructure by X-ray diffraction and by complementary methods
such as transmission electron microscopy or Raman spectroscopy.

A strong interest to work at the leading edge of measurement science
and a high motivation to work in international and multidisciplinary
research teams are essential. Good knowledge of English (oral and
written) is important and knowledge of German or French would
be an advantage. Experience in X-ray diffraction techniques
is desirable.

Empa in Thun offers an ideal working environment and is situated
in a beautiful area in the German speaking part of Switzerland.

Applicants are invited to apply for a 1-3-year appointment.

Additional information can be obtained from our website

www.empa.ch or www.empa.ch/abt128

and by
contacting Dr. Johann Michler, johann.michler@empa.ch

Please submit your application online

http://internet1.refline.ch/673276/0309/++publications++/1/index.html

and upload all documents ("pdf"-file is recommended) through this webpage until 15.10.2012. Any other way of applying will not be considered.