Postdoctoral Fellow, Ionizing Radiation Standards

Automotive and Surface Transportation; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 83,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization in Ottawa is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to develop a clinically viable pyroelectric calorimeter for FLASH radiation therapy. Candidates will hold a Ph.D. in Medical Physics or a related field and have relevant experience in experimental techniques and radiation detector development. The annual salary is between $83,985 and $116,641, with additional benefits and career development opportunities.

Benefits

Comprehensive health and dental coverage

Robust pension plan

Disability and life insurance

Relocation assistance

Access to research facilities and career progression support

Qualifications

• Significant experience using experimental techniques and radiation detector development.
• Experience with accelerator-based dose measurements or Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations is required.

Responsibilities

• Develop a clinically viable pyroelectric calorimeter for FLASH radiation therapy.
• Optimize sensor materials and designs for real-time dose measurement.
• Validate performance under clinically relevant conditions.

Skills

Experimental techniques

Radiation detector development

Accelerator-based dose measurements

Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations

Education

Ph. D. in Medical Physics or a related field

Job description

Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

* The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

OrganizationalUnit: Metrology Research Centre

Classification: RO

Duration: 2 years

Work arrangements: Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the NRC work location identified.

The program

The NRC’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program offers PDFs access to unique world‑class facilities and the opportunity to work alongside multi‑disciplinary teams of expert researchers and technicians on projects of critical importance to Canada. PDFs will carry out research on innovative research projects, with opportunities for career development (publications and/or industry interaction).

PDFs will be offered appointments to the staff of the National Research Council on a term basis and will be offered salaries and benefits currently available to Research Officers. Salaries commensurate with experience are taxable and subject to other deductions. As a guide, the current annual PhD recruiting rate is $83,985. In addition PDFs will be allocated a travel fund to support their work.

The role

NRC is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to develop a clinically viable pyroelectric calorimeter for ultra‑high dose‑rate (FLASH) radiation therapy. FLASH offers the potential for improved cancer treatment outcomes but dose measurement challenges due to extreme dose rates limit the clinical translation of this emerging therapy. Building on NRC’s leadership in radiation standards and absorbed dose calorimetry, this project will create a novel detector that leverages the temperature‑dependent polarization of pyroelectric materials to measure absorbed dose in real time. The Fellow will optimize sensor materials and designs, refine calibration methods, and validate performance under clinically relevant conditions using state‑of‑the‑art equipment at NRC and Canadian partner clinics. The work will generate new detector technologies, publications, and potential intellectual property, advancing both clinical translation and national measurement capabilities. This project will help enable safe, accurate FLASH implementation and strengthen NRC’s role in supporting precision radiation therapy across Canada.

Education

Ph. D. in Medical Physics or a closely related field.

• Significant experience using experimental techniques and radiation detector development; and
• Experience with accelerator‑based dose measurements or Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations is required, although experience with both is preferred.

For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.

Who is eligible?

• Fellowships will be for two years contingent on satisfactory progress achieved during the first year.
• Candidates should have obtained a PhD (or equivalent) within the past three years (PhD received on or after July 1, 2023*) or expect to complete their PhD within 6 months of appointment.
• Fellows will work in a lab under the direct supervision of an NRC researcher.

*Exceptions may be considered to recognize personal or family related leave. Please connect with us using the contact information below to discuss in more detail.

Application requirements

To be considered for the program please include the following in your application; failure to do so will result in your application being excluded.

• Resume
• Statement of Interest in the project (maximum one page in length)
• Ph.D. Transcript – an electronic copy is sufficient, it does not have to be an official version.
• List of Publications

When submitting your application you can include the required documents in any attachment field such as “Second language evaluation results” or “Other attachments.”

In addition, applicants who best meet the requirements of the position will be asked to provide three letters of recommendation at a later stage of the competition process.

Compensation

The intent of this hiring action is to staff the position at the AsRO level, which is an early‑career level position with a salary range of $83,985 to $116,641. This wide range accounts for varying degrees of expertise and impact, and growth within the role.

Salary determination will be based on a thorough evaluation of the successful candidate’s prior experience. This evaluation will consider specific achievements, skills, and contributions that demonstrate the candidate’s impact and expertise. As a guide, the average starting rate for new PhD graduates entering this role is $83,985.

The NRC is committed to supporting career progression within the organization, providing access to the opportunities and resources needed for a pathway to a fulfilling career. NRC employees also enjoy a wide‑range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well‑being throughout your career and beyond.

Notes

• In 2025, the NRC was chosen as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, a National Capital Region Top Employer and Forbes Canada’s Best Employer.
• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• Fellowships are open to nationals of all countries, although preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Closing Date: 19 December 2025 – 23:59 Eastern Time

*If you are currently a term or continuing employee at NRC, please apply through the SuccessFactors Careers module from your NRC computer.