Post-doctoral researcher in high-resolution, multispectral optical computed tomography

The Institute of Cancer Research, London, is one of the world’s most influential cancer research institutes, with an outstanding record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. We provided the first convincing evidence that DNA damage is the basic cause of cancer, laying the foundation for the now universally accepted idea that cancer is a genetic disease. Today, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) leads the world at isolating cancer-related genes and discovering new targeted drugs for personalised cancer treatment.

Research within the Imaging Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) covers a wide range, from equipment and technology development, through biological studies in cells and animals, to clinical studies. The project will take place in the ICR’s purpose-built Centre for Cancer Imaging (CCI), the result of a recent capital investment of more than £20M in infrastructure and equipment, which houses around 130 researchers focused on multimodality preclinical imaging, including optical, bioluminescence, ultrasound, MRI, x-ray CT and nuclear medicine techniques.

This exciting BBSRC-funded project is concerned with developing high-resolution multispectral optical computed tomography (CT). Optical CT is the visible-light analogue of the clinical imaging modality x-ray CT, and this work will employ one of the optical CT variants known as optical projection tomography (OPT). OPT delivers high quality images and, although it can be used to probe sub-cellular 3-D volumes, it is more commonly used for imaging at a mesoscopic length scale, with applications in developmental biology (mouse embryos and zebrafish) and imaging of excised whole rodent organs. OPT has strengths that make it highly complementary to other 3-D techniques, such as confocal microscopy, selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) and high-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM).


This is a challenging and highly focused 15-month project to demonstrate feasibility of the multispectral optical CT technique, via simulation, construction of a prototype scanner and acquisition of proof-of-concept data in two different areas.


We are seeking a talented and highly motivated postdoc to deliver the cutting-edge science and optical engineering for this project, and this will involve the following tasks:
•detailed study of the existing literature in optical computed tomography and research into equipment design and best practice in data acquisition;
•detailed study of the theory and methods of sparse data acquisition (also known as compressed sensing) and image reconstruction;
•computer simulation and optimisation;
•design and assembly of a variety of optical systems;
•experimental characterisation of the optical scanner and design of a programme of work necessary to optimise data acquisitions;
•work with colleagues to bring forward an optical CT imaging development and evaluation programme incorporating multispectral imaging;
•communication of research findings through internal reports, journal papers, conferences and talks





The successful candidate will be working in a stimulating, multi-disciplinary environment, alongside clinicians, physicists, bioinformaticians and biologists. The successful candidate will hold a Bachelor’s degree in physics, computer science, mathematics, or other appropriate scientific or technical discipline and PhD in a related field, ideally with previous postdoctoral experience. Skills and previous experience in optics, imaging and/or sparse reconstruction are also essential as is the ability to assimilate information rapidly from scientific publications. In addition to mathematical and coding skills to translate published methods into working algorithms you will have excellent communication and people skills with the ability to communicate research findings and methodology, for audiences at a variety of different levels

The ICR has a great record in employee satisfaction thanks to its competitive salary and benefits packages, environment and career support.

For a full JD please and to apply, please visit our website.