FUNCTIE INHOUD

Funded by the European Commission through the Marie Sklodowska-Curie program, the MSCA Doctoral Network ‘MyoTreat’, offers a PhD training position at Erasmus MC. The theme of the network is ‘Myopia - from genes and environment to cellular responses and treatment’. The PhD student at Erasmus MC, in collaboration with Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture, will investigate the role of light and different wavelengths of light on the choroidal thickness in humans. The position provides a unique opportunity, as it is linked to two institutes within the Netherlands and a European Network with distinct areas of expertise. The candidate will gain comprehensive training in vision research while also enhancing their technical proficiency and has the unique opportunity to work in 2 high ranked scientific institutes in the Netherlands.
Myopia is the most common eye disorder in developed countries. The prevalence of myopia has increased over the last decades. Over 80% of the university students in East Asia are currently myopic; in Europe about 50% of the young adults are developing myopia. Myopia develops during childhood and is influenced by genetic factors and environmental factors, and has high risk of visual impairment in adult life. The choroid is the vascular structure underneath the retina and can facilitate signaling between the retina and the sclera to induce axial length growth and myopia.
We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD student with a natural intellectual curiosity for interdisciplinary research and discovery. The project will address the role of the choroid on the development of myopia by studying different wavelengths of light on the choroidal thickness by OCT measurements. The candidate will benefit from networking with, and secondments to other project partners within the MyoTreat network in order to gain understanding and access knowledge from others and implement this into their own research.

The candidate will utilize cutting-edge techniques:

• non-invasive optical measurement techniques for measurement (optical coherence tomography) in humans.
• Light sources emitting specific wavelengths of light, combination of wavelengths and intensities.
• Artificial intelligence to automatically segment retinal layers.
• Instruments and sensors for monitoring environmental light exposure and its spectral characteristics.

Please refer the Job description for details