MVLS/EPSRC - Magnetic resonance imaging physics for the study of small vessel disease in humans at ultra-high field

We are looking for a physicist or engineer to participate in a major initiative to develop the Living Laboratory at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. This will integrate medical research across a range of disciplines, including technology development for clinical MRI, based in the Imaging Centre of Excellence (ICE), which houses one of the first 7-tesla (7T) MRI scanners in a clinical setting. The PhD project will involve a close collaboration with partners in the NHS, Siemens Healthcare, and MR CoilTech, a local company with expertise in developing radiofrequency (RF) coils for MRI. The project will use 7T MRI to develop an advanced imaging capability for the diagnosis and characterisation of small-vessel disease in the brain. Compared to standard MRI at 1.5T or 3T, the higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at this field strength improves the visualisation of smaller vessels using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and the measurement of tissue perfusion using arterial spin labelling (ASL). The successful candidate will be involved in the design and implementation of new imaging methods using parallel-transmit techniques and dedicated RF hardware that is currently in development at ICE. The candidate will also contribute to a clinical study to assess the benefits of the new technology.