Postdoctoral researcher: Developing integral-field spectropolarimetry for medical imaging and astronomy



Work within a unique collaboration between astronomers, medical experts and industry partners on the development of a novel instrument for medical imaging.

What you will do
In 2026, we will start a unique project, called HYPERION, in collaboration between the astronomers of NOVA / Leiden Observatory, surgeons at the Leiden University Medical Center, and Dutch industry partners. We will apply technology from astronomy to instantaneously record spectra and polarization information for every pixel in a field-of-view to medical imaging for detection and demarcation of tumours and blood perfusion. We aim to hire a post-doctoral researcher to work on the full cycle on instrument design, prototyping, testing, validation, and further development for the commercial market.

  • Establish instrument requirements (as part of the team).
  • Develop a complete instrument design.
  • Build and test a prototype instrument (hardware + software).
  • Validate the prototype within medical contexts.
  • Apply lessons learnt to commercial applications and future astronomical instruments.


Where you will work
The technical work will be carried out at the optical instrumentation R&D group at Leiden Observatory, within the context of NOVA (the Dutch Research School for Astronomy), with also a technical department in Dwingeloo that will be involved in the project. While the primary application is on medical imaging, we also expect the post-doc researcher to be involved in applications/projects for astronomical instrumentation (in particular for direct imaging of exoplanets) at a level of ~25% of the time.
The project is in collaboration with the LUMC, where two PhD students will be hired for the HYPERION project to apply the instrument prototype (in addition to commercially available instruments) on studies of medical imaging of blood perfusion and tumours.

What you bring
In this team, we are looking for someone who can work independently. Every job is different, so in the beginning we will devote attention to your onboarding. If some of the work activities are new to you, we will look together at what you need, and draw up a development plan. This position is a good fit for you if you recognise yourself in the following:

  • Experience (PhD degree) with the design and practical development of advanced optical (spectral + polarimetric) instrumentation, e.g. for astronomy or applied physics.
  • Software skills for e.g. detector read-out and data analysis.
  • Interests in research fields beyond the classical boundaries.
  • A real team player. Can easily communicate with technicians, medical experts, sales representatives, and even patients.
  • Fluent in English. Proficiency in Dutch is not required.

If you immediately recognise yourself in this profile, or if do you not quite meet all the requirements, but you believe that this is the right job for you, we look forward to your application!

What we offer
Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.
You can count on a challenging and enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.

We also offer:

  • A full-time appointment of initially one year. After a positive evaluation of the progress of the research, personal capabilities and compatibility, the appointment will be extended for another three years. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
  • A salary between €3546 - €5538 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (Scale 10);
  • A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
  • Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
  • Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week;
  • Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription or bicycle scheme, and we also offer child-care options;
  • If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
  • A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces.


For more information about employment conditions, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/werken-bij/sollicitatieprocedure-en-arbeidsvoorwaarden

What we find important
Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.

Want to apply or find out more?
If you want to apply straight away, log in to the job application portal below.
If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Frans Snik, at snik [at] strw.leidenuniv.nl. You can apply until Jan 30, 2026; applications will be processed immediately.

To help us get to know each other better, we follow a number of steps in the application procedure. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/werken-bij/sollicitatieprocedure-en-arbeidsvoorwaarden
Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated. If you nevertheless choose to send us CVs, no rights can be derived from this.