PhD in Medical radiation physics

Original title: Doctoral position in medical radiation physics

Lund University, unit for medical radiation physics

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 46 000 students and 8 500 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard equality, equal opportunities and diversity as a strength and an asset.

Description of the workplace

At the Department of Medical Radiation Physics, both education and research are conducted across the various fields of medical radiation physics (www.msf.lu.se/ and https://www.msf-malmo.lu.se/ ).

Research at Medical Radiation Physics include projects related to the application of ionizing and non-ionizing radiations to imaging techniques and to therapy, experimental x-ray imaging and magnetic resonance. Environmental radioactivity, radiobiology and radiation protection are other important fields of scientific interest.

The Environmental Radiology group at Medical Radiation Physics works in close collaboration with the Biospheric and Anthropogenic Radioactivity group at the Division of Particle and Nuclear Physics (Physics Department, Lund University). Together, the two groups currently comprise four university lecturers, one researcher, two project assistants, four doctoral students, and two emeritus professors. The recruited doctoral student will operate in the offices and laboratories of both groups, located in Lund and Malmö.

As a doctoral student at Lund University, you are expected to complete a PhD programme, specified in your individual study plan.

During your studies, you will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis defence and a doctoral degree.

More about being a doctoral student at the Faculty of Science at naturvetenskap.se Doctoral studies | Faculty of Science

Subject and project description

This doctoral research project aims to investigate the persistence of tritium in soil and sediments, in particular in organic matter where its measurement and quantification are especially difficult. Tritium (T or 3H) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen produced in the upper atmosphere where it combines with oxygen to form tritiated water molecules (HTO). HTO is metabolised into organic molecules by biota into organically bound tritium (OBT). Tritium is also produced by human activities and in particular by nuclear facilities.

Our project intends to fill this knowledge gap that exists on the accumulation of tritium in soil and sediment in particular in the context of nuclear facilities in Sweden.

• Develop methods to quantify the OBT in soil and sediments.
• Assess the retention of tritium as OBT in the vicinity of past, current and upcoming nuclear sites in Sweden.
• Estimate the potential health risk these tritium sinks to exposed workers, the public and to the wildlife.

During your doctoral studies, you will follow the general syllabus for postgraduate education in the subject of Medical Radiation Physics: General syllabi.

As a doctoral student, you will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral education, which includes participation in research projects and writing a doctoral thesis, as well as completing third cycle courses and seminars. In consultation with you, an individual study plan for your programme will be drawn up.

The doctoral project research tasks include:

• Reviewing the latest progress described in the scientific literature regarding the assessment of OBT in the environment.
• Developing and validating tools and methods to analyse and quantify tritium in soils and sediments.
• Applying the new methods in the vicinity of former and current nuclear installation sites in Sweden.
• Estimating radiation doses to humans and wildlife based on the experimentally determined amounts of tritium.

The research projects will be reported in the form of articles submitted for publication in scientific journals, reports to the funding organisation and conference contributions. The articles will constitute part of the doctoral thesis.

In addition to studies, a maximum of 20 % of working time may be spent on teaching (typically by leading exercises or laboratory sessions) and other administrative work.

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

Applicants meet the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if they:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Applicants meet the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in medical radiation physics if they:

• have been awarded a degree in medical physics, or an equivalent foreign qualification, or
• have completed another programme of higher education providing basic eligibility for doctoral studies (240 credits), within which courses amounting to at least 60 higher education credits are directly relevant to the doctoral education, and including the completion of an independent project (degree project) of at least 30 credits.

The selection of eligible applicants will be made by taking into account the ability to benefit from the training, based on the following criteria:

• results achieved in first and second-cycle courses or the equivalent
• the breadth, depth and relevance of first and second-cycle courses or the equivalent
• the quality of the second-cycle degree project and other autonomous work
• proficiency in spoken and written English
• personal qualities deemed to support the ability to carry out the doctoral education, such as independence, analytical ability, creativity, and ability to collaborate
• documented knowledge of radionuclide production in nuclear power plants
• documented knowledge of environmental monitoring or radioecology
• documented knowledge of statistics
• previous experience working with radionuclides
• previous experience with development of analytical methods
• previous experience with laboratory and field work
• proficiency in spoken and written Swedish

Lund University is a public authority which offers employees particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.

More about working at Lund University on lu.se. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/work-lund-university

The employment is a fixed-term employment at full time, starting 2027-01-01 or as agreed. Third cycle studies at the Faculty of Science consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund University’s Staff-pages. https://www.staff.lu.se/research-and-education/research-support/doctoral-education/terms-employment-doctoral-students

Contact person: Guillaume Pedehontaa-Hiaa (guillaume.pedehontaa-hiaa@med.lu.se) Interviews of the top-ranked candidates will be conducted in the end of 2026

Write your application in Swedish or English and include the following attachments:

• CV and personal letter with a justification of why you are interested in the training place/employment and in what way the research project matches your interests and your educational background.
• Copies of issued study certificates and/or diplomas. These should prove your basic and special eligibility for the doctoral education subject and show that you have the subject knowledge required for the doctoral education project.
• Copy of the master’s-level degree project (thesis)
• Other information that you wish to refer to (copies of grades, information for references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

We welcome your application.

Within the Faculty of Science research and education is conducted within Astronomy, Biology, Physics, Geosciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, medical radiation physics, physical geography and Environmental Sciences. The Faculty of Science is organized into eight departments, gathered in the northern campus area in Lund. The Faculty of Science has approximately 1900 students, 330 PhD students and 730 employees.

We kindly decline all sales and marketing contacts.

• Guillaume Pedehontaa-Hiaa, guillaume.pedehontaa-hiaa@med.lu.se
• Crister Ceberg, +46725453805, crister.ceberg@med.lu.se
• OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli, 046-2229362, st@st.lu.se
• SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet, kansli@saco-s.lu.se, kansli@saco-s.lu.se
• SEKO: Seko Civil, 046-2229366, sekocivil@seko.lu.se