Research Fellow in Theoretical and Computational Acoustics

About us

The Biomedical Ultrasound Group at University College London (UCL) was formed in 2013 to bring together researchers in acoustics, medical physics, and computer science with doctors and front-line users in medicine and the life sciences (http://bug.medphys.ucl.ac.uk). The group currently comprises twelve full-time research staff, with expertise extending from physical acoustics and numerical modelling, through to ultrasonic and optical instrumentation, and in vivo experimentation. The group has a particular focus on the development of advanced computer models which can predict how ultrasound waves propagate in the human body. These models have many applications in therapeutic and diagnostic ultrasound, including imaging, treatment planning, image reconstruction, and hardware design. The results of our modelling research have culminated in ten releases of a widely-used open-source acoustics toolbox called k-Wave (http://www.k-wave. org). Und er recent EPSRC funding, we are now working on new algorithms for modelling acoustic waves (particularly in absorbing media and bones), and on re-engineering and improving k-Wave.

About the role

A full-time position is now available to contribute to these research activities. This is a fixed-term role until 31 August 2025 in the first instance, with the possibility of a further extension subject to funding. The main purpose of the job is to contribute to the development of new differential equations, numerical methods, and computer codes for modelling ultrasound waves in the human body and modelling acoustic waves in general. The role is flexible, and there will be the opportunity to focus the research on the particular skills and interests of the applicant within the general remit outlined below. Duties and responsibilities may include: Develop new numerical methods for solving wave equations (e.g., based on Green’s function methods, pseudospectral methods, or deep learning techniques); Develop new approaches for including narrow-band sources and arbitrary boundaries and boundary conditions within pseudospectral methods; Implement well-documented and tested computer code and worked examples as part of k-Wave-II; Develop new wave equations that capture absorption, dispersion and nonlinearity in biological tissue and numerical methods to solve them in a computationally efficient way; Study different ways of solving coupled physics models (e.g., thermal heating from an ultrasound wave). Appointment at Grade 7 (£39,508 - £47,355) is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Grade 6B (salary £35,702 - £37,548 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD Thesis.

About you

You will have a PhD (or equivalent) with a strong mathematical component (e.g., in applied mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science) ; Knowledge of the fundamentals of acoustics; Knowledge of analytical and numerical methods used to solve partial differential equations related to acoustics; and Experience in developing scientific software in a common coding language (e.g., Python, MATLAB, C/C++). For more information, including the job description and person specification, please click the apply button.

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