Staff Radiochemist – Cyclotron (Research Associate 2), Lawson

St. Joseph's Health Care London; London; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospital-based research institute is seeking a staff Radiochemist for its Cyclotron & Radiochemistry facility. This role involves developing PET tracers, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and operating radiochemistry equipment. Ideal candidates will hold an M.Sc or Ph.D in chemistry and have experience in the field, contributing to advanced medical imaging technologies.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Develop and translate PET tracers for clinical and preclinical imaging.
• Validate processes for manufacturing PET tracers according to Health Canada guidelines.
• Train technical staff to produce PET tracers on a routine basis.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

Synthetic organic chemistry

Troubleshooting

Problem-solving

Education

M.Sc or Ph.D in chemistry

Tools

HPLC

GC

Radio detectors

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 best and most respected hospital-based research institutes. As the research institute of St. Joseph's Health Care London and working in partnership with London Health Sciences Centre and Western University, Lawson is committed to furthering scientific knowledge to advance health care around the world and to helping people live healthier lives by enhancing our knowledge of preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease.

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

This is a 5-day (37.5 hours) per week position.

This facility uses a medical cyclotron to produce radioisotopes for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging – the most advanced medical diagnostic imaging technology available today – enabling early and accurate detection of cancer and diseases of the heart and brain.

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

1. Develop and translate PET tracers for clinical and preclinical imaging
2. Validate processes for manufacturing PET tracers, including radiosynthesis, purification, formulation, and quality control testing, according to 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 commitments including Health Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
6. Train technical staff to produce PET tracers on a routine basis
7. Provide technical expertise to troubleshoot manufacturing issues
8. Safely operate the cyclotron and other radiochemistry equipment to support preclinical and clinical research needs
9. Perform periodic routine production, packaging, and shipping of radioisotopes as needed

Essential Qualifications

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

Preferred Qualifications

• A publication record in PET or SPECT radiochemistry
• Knowledge of analytical chemistry testing equipment and procedures (e.g., HPLC, GC, radio detectors)
• Skills in synthetic organic chemistry
• Knowledge of GMP and regulatory systems (Canada and internationally: FDA, EMA, USP, ICH)
• Experience with quality management systems (QC testing, QA, GMP, GLP)
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently with good organization and communication skills
• Ability to prioritize projects and manage deadlines in a dynamic environment
• Knowledge of environmental health and radioprotection requirements
• Experience with computer systems for general tasks and laboratory equipment operation

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