Research Associate 2, Lawson

St. Joseph's Health Care London; London; On-site; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in London, Ontario, is seeking a staff Radiochemist to join their Cyclotron & Radiochemistry facility. The role involves developing PET tracers, ensuring compliance with Health Canada guidelines, and training staff. The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree in chemistry and experience in radiochemistry. This temporary full-time position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in medical imaging.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of experience in PET or SPECT radiochemistry.
• Willingness to work as a Nuclear Energy Worker in a radioactive environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and translate PET tracers for clinical and preclinical imaging.
• Validate manufacturing processes for PET tracers.
• Train technical staff in routine PET tracer production.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Problem Solving

Communication

Organization

Education

M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Chemistry

Tools

HPLC

GC

Job description

Lawson

St. Joseph's Hospital - London, ON

Temporary Full Time

Salary Range: $41.82 - $52.27 /hour

Temporary full-time position until approximately June 30, 2030 (with potential for renewal), subject to the availability of work.

The Lawson Research Institute is one of Canada's leading hospital-based research institutes. As the research institute of St. Joseph's Health Care London, in partnership with London Health Sciences Centre and Western University, Lawson is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge to improve healthcare worldwide and help people live healthier lives through better understanding of disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Lawson is seeking a staff Radiochemist for its Cyclotron & Radiochemistry facility in London, Ontario.

This position involves a 5-day (37.5 hours/week) work schedule.

The facility utilizes a medical cyclotron to produce radioisotopes for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging, an advanced diagnostic technology enabling early and accurate detection of cancer and cardiovascular and neurological diseases.

The successful candidate will report to the Facility Director, become a vital part of a research/clinical team in an academic hospital setting, and be expected to:

1. Develop and translate PET tracers for clinical and preclinical imaging.
2. Validate manufacturing processes for PET tracers, including radiosynthesis, purification, formulation, and quality control testing, following Health Canada guidelines (e.g., GLP, GMP).
3. Author standard operating procedures and master batch documents for routine manufacturing.
4. Prepare Chemistry and Manufacturing Compliance packages for clinical trial applications (CTA) submissions to Health Canada.
5. Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, including Health Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
6. Train technical staff in routine PET tracer production.
7. Provide technical troubleshooting for manufacturing issues.
8. Operate cyclotron and radiochemistry equipment safely to support research needs.
9. Perform routine production, packaging, and shipping of radioisotopes as needed.

Essential Qualifications

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in chemistry.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in PET or SPECT radiochemistry.
• Willingness to work as a Nuclear Energy Worker in a radioactive environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Publication record in PET or SPECT radiochemistry.
• Knowledge of analytical chemistry testing equipment (HPLC, GC, radio detectors).
• Skills in synthetic organic chemistry.
• Understanding of GMP and regulatory systems (FDA, EMA, USP, ICH).
• Experience with quality management systems (QC, QA, GMP, GLP).
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently, with excellent organization and communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Knowledge of environmental health and radioprotection standards.
• Proficiency with computer systems and laboratory equipment.

Immunization Requirements

• Provide vaccination records or proof of immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, Hepatitis B, COVID-19, and influenza.
• Provide documentation of Tuberculosis skin testing.