The Development and Validation of Dynamic Couch System for Real-Time Adaptive Radiotherapy on a General-Purpose Linear Accelerator PhD Scholarship is a fully funded Higher Degree Research (HDR) PhD scholarship offered by the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Australia. The project is hosted within the Faculty of Medicine and Health and is conducted in collaboration with the South Western Sydney Local Health District through the National Industry PhD (NIPhD) Program. The scholarship supports research that develops a novel Dynamic Couch system capable of automatically compensating for patient motion during radiotherapy. Moreover, the project aims to improve the precision, safety, and effectiveness of cancer treatment through innovative engineering and medical technologies.

Background and Purpose

The project addresses one of the major challenges in modern radiotherapy. More than half of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy, yet physiological movements such as breathing and involuntary body motion can reduce treatment accuracy by causing tumor displacement during radiation delivery. Furthermore, more than 98% of radiotherapy patients worldwide receive treatment on general-purpose linear accelerators, which currently do not provide real-time motion adaptation. This research aims to develop and validate a movable patient couch that continuously adjusts the patient’s position throughout treatment, ensuring accurate tumor alignment during radiation delivery. As a result, the technology can improve tumor control, reduce radiation exposure to healthy tissues, minimize treatment-related toxicity, and support the development of a prototype Dynamic Couch system for future clinical trials.

Development and Validation of Dynamic Couch System for Real-Time Adaptive Radiotherapy on a General-Purpose Linear Accelerator PhD Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship provides approximately AUD 39,200 per annum, tax-free. This funding includes a UNSW scholarship together with industry and National Industry PhD top-up support. In addition, scholars become part of the National Industry PhD Program and gain access to the Campus Plus national network for professional development, industry engagement, networking, and collaboration. Consequently, recipients receive outstanding financial support while developing valuable academic, clinical, and industry experience.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements for a PhD at UNSW and demonstrate excellent academic achievement and strong research potential. Both domestic and international applicants are eligible to apply. Furthermore, applicants should have an academic background in biomedical engineering, medical physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, software engineering, robotics, or a related discipline. A strong interest in medical technology, radiotherapy, and healthcare innovation will strengthen an application.

Development and Validation of Dynamic Couch System for Real-Time Adaptive Radiotherapy on a General-Purpose Linear Accelerator PhD Scholarship Application Process

Applicants should identify the project and contact the research team before submitting a Higher Degree Research application to UNSW. They must complete the university’s admission process and provide all required academic documents and supporting materials. Furthermore, applicants should clearly demonstrate how their qualifications, technical skills, and research interests align with the project’s objectives. Therefore, early communication with the project supervisors and careful preparation of the application can improve the likelihood of selection.

Opportunities for Scholars

The scholarship provides an exceptional opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research with direct clinical impact. Moreover, scholars work alongside medical physicists, biomedical engineers, software engineers, clinicians, and radiation oncology specialists while developing advanced technologies for cancer treatment. They also gain valuable industry experience through the National Industry PhD Program and the Campus Plus network. Consequently, graduates are well prepared for careers in academia, medical physics, biomedical engineering, healthcare technology, medical device development, radiation oncology research, and the global medical technology industry.