Postdoc (m/f/d) advanced reconstruction methods for X-ray phase contrast tomography

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), in Geesthacht, near Hamburg, and in Teltow, near Berlin, conducts materials and coastal research. For further information please refer to: www.hzg.de

HZG is one of the 19 national institutions of the Hermann von Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres e.V. (HGF). Around 1,000 employees carry out basic research and development work in close cooperation with national and international research institutions, research-oriented clinics and economic and public institutions.

At the Institute of Materials Research some 200 scientists conduct research in the five sub-institutes "Materials Mechanics", "Materials Physics", "Materials Technology", "Magnesium Innovation Centre MagIC" and "Metallic Biomaterials".

Postdoc (m/f/d) advanced reconstruction methods for X-ray phase contrast tomography

Reference code: 50039498_2 – 2020/WP 12
Commencement date: as soon as possible
The place of employment is Hamburg.

The position is initially limited to 3 years and may be extended.

Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG) operates an outstation at DESY in Hamburg in order to provide access to highly brilliant synchrotron radiation within its German Engineering Materials Science Center (GEMS). At the PETRA III synchrotron radiation source, HZG jointly operates the High Energy Materials Science Beamline (HEMS, P07), the Imaging Beamline (IBL, P05) and the Nanofocus end station of the Micro- and Nanofocus X-ray Scattering Beamline (MiNaXS, P03) along with supporting laboratory instrumentation.

The tomography end stations at IBL and HEMS regularly produce large amounts of challenging 3D and 4D imaging data. For soft tissues or to enhance the intensity signal when the attenuation contrast is low, propagation-based or grating interferometric phase contrast imaging techniques are employed. In situ/operando/vivo experiments further impose severe constraints on scan times and X-ray dose. In order to enhance image quality, reduce artefacts, accelerate data acquisition and extend the employed techniques beyond current limitations, advanced methods for tomographic reconstruction and phase retrieval will be implemented including algebraic, iterative, functional or learning-based approaches. Furthermore, we explore combined approaches for multi-task processing and strategies for the optimization of acquisition, processing and analysis of image data.

Your tasks

• implementation of advanced reconstruction methods for tomographic reconstruction and phase retrieval
• implementation of deep-learning approaches for tomographic reconstruction and phase retrieval
• mutual optimization of acquisition, processing and analysis of image data
• development of combined approaches for tomographic reconstruction and phase retrieval
• implementation of image processing tasks (artefact reduction, denoising, movement correction, segmentation, etc.)
• support of users during tomography experiments (beamtimes) at our PETRA III beamlines
• application of developed algorithms to tomography user data
• close collaboration with colleagues and beamline staff
• publish and present scientific results at international conferences and workshops

Your profile

These qualifications are essential to fulfil the above-mentioned duties:

• PhD in physics, mathematics, computer science or equivalent
• working experience in X-ray tomography
• expertise in tomography, phase contrast imaging and image processing
• knowledge in the areas of deep learning
• proficiency in a relevant programming language (Python, Matlab, C/C++, CUDA, etc.)
• experience with data analysis and handling of large data sets
• team player with good communication skills
• ability to work in an interdisciplinary and international team
• excellent skills in oral and written English

These qualifications are considered assets:

• experience in software development
• experience in high performance, parallel and distributed computing
• experience with image enhancement, image segmentation, or image registration
• experience with working at a synchrotron beamline
• experience with simulation frameworks
• good communication skills in German

We offer

• multinational work environment with over 1,000 colleagues from more than 50 nations
• extensive options of vocational training (i. a. expert seminars, language courses or leadership seminars)
• flexible working hours and various models to ensure the compatibility of family and career
• excellent infrastructure, including a scientific in-house library as well as modern work spaces
• an appropriate salary related to the German public tariff (TV-AVH) plus the usual social benefits for the public employment sector

The promotion of equal rights is a matter of course for us. Severely disabled persons and those equaling severely disabled persons who are equally suitable for the position will be considered preferentially within the framework of legal requirements.

For inquiries, please contact
Dr. Julian Moosmann (julian.moosmann@hzg.de)

Interested? Then we are looking forward to receiving your comprehensive application documents (cover letter, CV, transcripts, certificates etc.) indicating the reference number 2020/WP 12.

Please start the online application process for this offered position via www.hzg.de category Career & Campus.

Closing date: November 25th, 2020
Contact: Mr. Tristan Tietz
www.hzg.de