Medical Physics Research in Radiotherapy Optimisation and Monte Carlo Simulation

Overview

This project is situated within the field of medical physics, focusing on the optimisation and modelling of radiotherapy treatments. The work spans both macroscopic treatment planning and microscopic radiation interaction modelling, making it inherently interdisciplinary, integrating physics, computational science, engineering, and health sciences.
Projects may involve the use of the matRad MATLAB-based toolkit for advanced treatment planning and optimisation, as well as TOPAS and TOPAS‑nBio Monte Carlo simulation frameworks to investigate radiation transport and biological effects across different spatial scales.
The topic is aligned with ongoing research activities in radiotherapy physics and may contribute to existing funded research programs and collaborations in areas such as particle therapy, radiation dosimetry, and radiobiological modelling.

Research engagement

Depending on the specific project focus, students may engage in:
Literature review of radiotherapy physics, treatment optimisation, and/or Monte Carlo simulation methods
Computational modelling using matRad for treatment planning studies
Monte Carlo simulations using TOPAS (macroscopic scale) and/or TOPAS‑nBio (microscopic and cellular-scale modelling)
Data analysis, visualisation, and interpretation of simulation or optimisation results
Evaluation of treatment plan quality, dose distributions, or radiobiological metrics

Research activities

Learning relevant software tools (MATLAB, matRad, TOPAS/TOPAS‑nBio)
Designing and running computational experiments or simulations
Analysing and interpreting results in a clinical or physical context
Participating in regular meetings with the project supervisor
Preparing a final report and/or presentation summarising findings
Students will work closely with:
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Andrew Fielding

Clinical Medical Physicists in local hospitals as appropriate

Research skills

Strong foundations in medical physics and radiotherapy principles
Experience with treatment planning optimisation techniques
Skills in Monte Carlo radiation transport simulation
Programming and computational skills (e.g., MATLAB, scripting, data analysis)
Scientific communication and research methodology
Critical thinking and problem-solving in a multidisciplinary environment

Outcomes

A written research report or technical summary
Development of simulation workflows or optimisation studies
Preliminary data that may inform future research, publications, or honours/PhD projects

Skills and experience

Background in physics, engineering, mathematics, or a related discipline
Some experience with programming (e.g., MATLAB, Python, or similar)
Interest in medical physics or radiation science
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Start date

2 November, 2026

End date

19 February, 2027

Location

Gardens Point

Keywords

• Medical Physics
• Radiotherapy
• Monte-Carlo simulation
• Ionising radiation
• Dosimetry

Contact

Andrew Fielding

31385325

a.fielding@qut.edu.au