PhD project: Medical Physics
Project description
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is an important technique that is used in the diagnosis of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. In recent years total body PET scanners with axial lengths of 1-2 m have been developed. These devices have the potential to dramatically reduce the radiation dose of a PET scan and broaden the utility of PET in human medical research resulting in new clinical applications. The experimental particle physics group at the University of Edinburgh has developed a collaboration with the Preclinical PET Facility at the Edinburgh QMRI facility. Using in-house expertise, we have developed a Geant4-based simulation framework that allows to study and optimize the parameters of total body PET scanners. We are also starting to explore the possibility to characterize new and novel scintillators for use in total body PET.
We welcome PhD applications from students wishing to work in this area.
Project supervisors
- Professor Matthew Needham (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
- Professor Franz Muheim (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
The project supervisors welcome informal enquiries about this project.
Find out more about this research area
The links below summarise our research in the area(s) relevant to this project:
- Find out more about Advanced Detector Development Centre.
- Find out more about Particle Physics Experiment.
- Find out more about the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics.
What next?
- Find out how to apply for our PhD degrees.
- Find out about fees and funding and studentship opportunities.
- View and complete the application form (on the main University website).
- Find out how to contact us for more information.