Medical Physicist jobs

Aligned with the Total-Body-PET scanner soon to be installed at The Christie, a new position exists for a Principal Clinical Scientist to work in the Nuclear Medicine group.

The successful candidate will become a member of a team of clinical scientists who provide the medical physics and radiation protection support to work with unsealed radioactive substances, primarily at The Christie.

Candidates must have a good first degree in physics or a physical science, MSc. or equivalent in physics applied to medicine or a related subject and be a registered Clinical Scientist. They should have significant training and experience in both diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures. They should have MPE certification and be able to demonstrate research experience in nuclear medicine imaging.

While the successful candidate will contribute to other aspects of the service, this role has a particular focus on PET-CT where significant experience is required.

The working pattern will include some extended working days and weekends, and occasional off-site working at other Nuclear Medicine departments in the North-West for whom physics support is provided.

Nuclear Medicine at The Christie also supports a number of Nuclear Medicine departments throughout the north-west of England and beyond, by supplying radioactive tracers and providing scientific advice on radiation safety and best practice.

The Nuclear Medicine team at The Christie pride ourselves on a friendly, inclusive and collaborative approach to delivering the very best service to our patients, and driving forward improvements that will lead to better diagnosis and treatment.

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.

We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.

Clinical scientists within the group sit on a number of different national bodies and contribute to guidance in several different areas of nuclear medicine, including diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, regulatory compliance, teaching and training.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1 Methodology and Instrumentation
To characterise, evaluate and validate medical imaging equipment, and associated equipment using complex methods and systems in physics, engineering and mathematics.

1.1 Keeping up to date with the latest developments in the field of NM and PET and implementing those where appropriate in terms of policies and procedures.
1.2 Develop an in-depth understanding of the set-up and optimisation of the configuration of the scanners and associated equipment.
1.3 Critically review and evaluate and analyse complex quality assurance procedures and formal documentation to validate the use of the above equipment, extending the tests as and when necessary, in the context of formal validation procedures.
1.4 Work with clinical technologists and others in developing and writing standard procedures for Nuclear Medicine and ensure that these are properly implemented.
1.5 Ensure as part of the group that operations conform to legislative requirements covering the use of radioactive materials.
1.6 Advising on diagnostic imaging and processing techniques, including practical assistance.
1.7 Writing computer software for data analysis.
1.8 Undertake imaging investigations on patients participating in research studies.
1.9 Preparation of test objects, which may require prolonged concentration.

2 Research
2.1 Design and conduct experiments to characterise NM and PET scanning equipment and associated instrumentation to improve upon current and introduce new imaging techniques.
2.2 Develop and validate new items of advanced instrumentation, devising new protocols and procedures and proposes change where necessary.
2.3 Develop complex methodological procedures for new investigations on patients in clinical research trials.
2.4 Carry out advanced and complex mathematical calculations for data and image analysis techniques.
2.5 Carry out radiation dosimetry and risk assessments for patient studies in research trial proposals.
2.6 Prepares applications to Local Research Ethics Committee(s) and internal Trust R&D management in order to maintain conformance with all aspects of clinical governance.
2.7 Performs literature searches and summaries.

3 Training and Dissemination
3.1 To undertake teaching, lecturing and training in various aspects of NM and PET, to various staff groups, such as clinical and other scientist and technologists at both undergraduate and postgraduate level
3.2 Provide specialist training in NM and PET methods and instrumentation to other members of staff, for both internal and external visiting groups.
3.3 Present the results of the work by writing articles for publication in scientific journals and presenting lectures at national and international scientific conferences.
3.4 Assist consultant radiologists and other clinicians in the reporting and interpretation of scan results.
3.5 Develop methods for, and undertake, the processing and analysis of NM and PET research studies.

4 Professional
Maintains scientific competence and State Registration as a Clinical Scientist, for which successful participation in a CPD scheme will be required. Maintain MPE status. Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour.