The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI is the largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences within Switzerland. We perform cutting-edge research in the fields of future technologies, energy and climate, health innovation and fundamentals of nature. By performing fundamental and applied research, we work on sustainable solutions for major challenges facing society, science and economy. PSI is committed to the training of future generations. Therefore, about one quarter of our staff are post-docs, post-graduates or apprentices. Altogether, PSI employs 2300 people.

PSI is a pioneer in the field of proton therapy. It conducts technological and clinical research in order to optimize spot scanning proton beam therapy and to extend the spectrum of indications for proton radiotherapy. Besides research activities, PSI provides a clinical program for patients presenting with indications that are accepted by the Swiss Health Care System for proton beam therapy. The Center for Proton Therapy collaborates closely with Departments for Radiotherapy at Universities and Swiss Cantonal Hospitals. 
 
For the Center of Proton Therapy we are looking for

Two PhD Students-Doctoral Candidates (2 positions) MSCA Doctoral Network RAPTORplus – Right-time Adaptive Proton Therapy Focus areas: paediatric benefit of OAPT & health-economic optimisation of OAPT

Your tasks

  • Conduct independent and collaborative research within the RAPTORplus framework
  • Interact closely with radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiotherapy technologists and industry partners
  • Present your work at RAPTORplus training events, international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals
  • Participate in network-wide training camps, online courses and secondments
  • Map current and future OAPT workflows at PSI, Erasmus MC and HollandPTC (process-mapping, time-stamping, resource use)
  • Design and implement semi-automated and automated modules (e.g. scripts, software tools) to streamline daily image processing, contouring, plan adaptation and approval
  • Evaluate plan-quality vs efficiency trade-offs for strategies such as hypofractionation, reduced beams/spots and mixed photon–proton courses
  • Develop and apply costing and cost-effectiveness models for OAPT vs conventional PT, including scenario analyses for different tumour sites and indication–strategy pairs
  • Work with health-economists, insurers and patient organisations to incorporate preferences and acceptable incremental costs into a multi-criteria decision-support framework
RAPTORplus (Right-time Adaptive Particle Therapy) is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) that will train 18 doctoral candidates across Europe to bring online adaptive proton therapy (OAPT) into routine clinical use. The network brings together leading proton therapy centres, universities and industry partners to: 
  • make OAPT workflows efficient, robust and affordable
  • advance key imaging and verification technologies, and
  • integrate biomarkers and health-economic considerations for right-time adaptation and personalised care 
Within RAPTORplus, PSI hosts two Doctoral Candidates (DC3 and DC6), both funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and fully embedded in the RAPTORplus training and secondment programme. 

Position 1 - DC3 (joint PSI–Erasmus MC PhD) - Reducing the cost of online adaptive proton therapy: automation, workflow & health economics 
This is a joint PhD between PSI (Switzerland) and Erasmus MC (The Netherlands), embedded in RAPTORplus and focusing on workflow automation and health-economic evaluation of OAPT. 
Key research goals (DC3): 
  • Investigate strategies to speed up treatment delivery (e.g. reducing number of beams/spots, optimised dose-rate, hypofractionation, triggered adaptation) while preserving plan quality and safety 
  • Build and apply a cost model for OAPT, using time-driven activity-based costing and health-economic methods to quantify the impact of automation and different clinical strategies on treatment-room time and staff use, cost per patient and cost-effectiveness, centre throughput and workflow robustness 
  • Integrate patient & public preferences (e.g. willingness to accept longer sessions vs fewer visits, reduced toxicity, travel distance) and insurer/regulator perspectives into a multi-criteria decision-support tool for cost-effective use of OAPT
The project combines technical work (scripting/planning, workflow analysis) with quantitative health-economics and preference modelling, in close collaboration with clinical, technical and management teams at PSI, Erasmus MC, and HollandPTC.

Your profile

  • MSc degree in physics, biomedical engineer, software engineer or related studies 
  • OR health economics, health sciences, with quantitative and analytical orientation
  • Less than 4 years of full-time research experience (after obtaining the Master’s degree) at the time of recruitment
  • Fulfil the European MSCA mobility rule: you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Switzerland for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before your recruitment date
  • Fluency in English (oral and written, C1 level)
  • Strong quantitative and analytical skills and the ability to work independently
  • High motivation to pursue research excellence in proton therapy and adaptive radiotherapy
  • Good communication skills and enjoyment of interdisciplinary, international teamwork 
  • Programming skills and interest (e.g. Python, MATLAB, C++) and experience with scientific computing or data analysis
  • Background in health economics or physics/engineering with interest in health-economic modelling
  • Experience with costing methods, decision-analytic modelling, or biostatistics is a strong asset
  • Interest in workflow optimisation, automation and scripting in a radiotherapy/proton-therapy environment
  • Enjoy working at the interface of technology, clinical workflows and health policy/insurer perspectives
  • Experience or interest in applying AI / machine learning to healthcare workflows, prediction models or decision-support tools

We offer

  • A fully funded PhD position in a leading proton therapy centre with access to state-of-the-art clinical and research infrastructure
  • Integration into the RAPTORplus Doctoral Network, including:
    - network-wide training camps and online courses,
    - secondments to academic, clinical and industrial partners,
    - opportunities for collaboration and co-authorship across Europe
  • a joint PSI–Erasmus MC PhD project 
    - typically ~2 years based at PSI (Villigen) and ~2 years at Erasmus MC (Rotterdam)
    - employment initially at PSI (SERI funding) with a final period at Erasmus MC
    - enrolment in the Erasmus MC PhD programme with joint supervision from PSI and Erasmus MC
  • An inspiring, interdisciplinary working environment with a strong culture of mentoring and collaboration
  • Attractive employment conditions and modern on-site infrastructure, with support for combining work and family life
Application and contact 
Please submit your application online via the RAPTORplus recruitment portal (as described on the RAPTORplus website), indicating clearly whether you are applying for: 
  • DC6 – Paediatric OAPT
  • DC3 – Workflow & Health Economics
  • or both positions
Your application should include: 
  • a cover letter specifying your motivation and preferred position(s) 
  • a CV (with list of publications, if any)
  • degree certificates and transcripts (Bachelor and Master)
  • contact details of two referees (or reference letters, if already available)
Priority will be given to applications received by 15 January 2026.

For further information, please contact:
Dr Francesca Albertini
Senior Medical Physicist & PI of the Adaptive Therapy Program
Center for Proton Therapy, Paul Scherrer Institute
Phone: +41 56 310 52 39
E-mail: Francesca.Albertini@psi.ch

Paul Scherrer Institute, Human Resources Management, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland