Preclinical Senior Technical Officer

Kings College London; England; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Kings College London, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, seeks a Preclinical Technical Officer in small animal imaging. You will work with nanoSPECT/CT and nanoPET/CT and may also engage with PET/MR, MRI, optical imaging and external beam irradiation.

Reporting to the Preclinical Imaging Operations Manager, you will train multidisciplinary scientists, calibrate and maintain scanners, develop quantitative imaging protocols, ensure regulatory compliance, and contribute to

Qualifications

• PhD qualified (or near completion) in Medical Physics/Imaging Biology or a related field.
• Experience with small animal imaging techniques (PET/SPECT/MR/Optical).
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and safety practices.

Responsibilities

• Operate, calibrate and perform quality control on small animal imaging scanners.
• Provide teaching, advice and training on imaging techniques and data analysis.
• Ensure compliance with Home Office licences, permits and health and safety requirements.
• Develop novel imaging protocols and data analysis pipelines to support colleagues.

Skills

Small animal imaging

Education

PhD or near completion in Medical Physics/Imaging Biology

Tools

Imaging equipment

Job description

Job summary

The department is looking to recruit a Preclinical Technical Officer in the field of small animal imaging, working mainly in the fields of nanoSPECT/CT and nanoPET/CT with opportunities to also work with PET/MR, MRI, optical imaging and focussed external beam irradiation therapy. The purpose of this role is to support, train and advise multidisciplinary scientists and students using and developing novel medical imaging methodology.

The incumbent will be expected to support the Pre-clinical Imaging Operations Manager to manage and maintain the preclinical imaging facilities (e.g. calibration, quality control, testing imaging scanners; trouble-shooting); ensure compliance of facilities and users with the relevant regulations and government bodies, with control over stocks, equipment and supplies.

Main duties of the job

Responsibilities include providing: teaching, advice and training on techniques/procedures, operation of the scanners and data and image analysis; facilitating the efficient and ethical operation of animal experiments involving imaging to achieve the aims of various research programmes. In addition, the post holder will be expected to extract maximum value and capability from the imaging facilities, by developing and implementing novel quantitative imaging protocols and flexible data analysis pipelines in response to the needs of colleagues.

Duties also include good communication, critical evaluation and problem-solving skills, use and monitoring of safe working practices to maintain and improve health & safety compliance. Included are completing risk assessments, SOPS, adjusting protocols and facilities to reduce levels of risk including negative environmental impacts. When required, reporting accidents/ incidents and participating in accident investigations.

Independent decisions will be expected, in a timely manner to solve problems which impact the facilities and contribute to collaborative decisions. This role requires the postholder to work independently based on an agreed work plan, setting own priorities and working cooperatively with stakeholders to achieve the service objectives.

The post holder will keep informed about developments in relevant technical/scientific fields and adopt and adapt new approaches/ methodologies to meet local needs.

About us

The School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences is an interdisciplinary School dedicated to the development, clinical translation and clinical application of medical imaging technologies and devices. Staff and students comprise physicists, chemists, biologists, engineers, mathematicians and clinicians working together in a highly cross-disciplinary way.

The Department of Imaging Chemistry & Biology is one of eight within the School and its remit is to develop contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals for both imaging and therapy and take them through the translational process from initial synthesis and characterisation, radiochemical synthesis, in vitro biology and preclinical in vivo biology and imaging, to the point of readiness for clinical evaluation.

Job responsibilities

• Contribution to the operational management of imaging facilities (e.g. bookings, finance, radionuclide deliveries/waste management, equipment servicing).
• Undertaking routine maintenance, calibration, quality control checks, inspections and running of equipment related to imaging of small animals.
• Designing, developing and executing experiments to test imaging equipment limitations and properties.
• Showing initiative in developing novel imaging and quantification methods in response to the needs of colleagues and under own initiative leading to collaboration and authorship in publications.
• Ensuring compliance with all Home Office licences, Environment Agency Permits, Health and Safety Executive, Biosecurity, Local Rules and internal procedures with associated auditing, documentation and updating of SOPs.
• Assessing experimental design, adherence to the 3Rs with critical and thoughtful feedback.
• Assisting in image interpretation, analysis, quantification and preparation of images and data for publication in support of colleagues in a variety of research areas.
• Provide teaching and training on all aspects of: operation of scanners; animal handling and regulated procedures; data reconstruction and image analysis as required.
• Performing the above tasks will also entail assisting with day-to-day care of animals (mice and rats mainly) undergoing research protocols within the School and helping to ensure highest ethical standards of users of the animal imaging facility, including; monitoring animals undergoing procedures; carrying out routine animal procedures including anaesthesia and intravenous injection; assisting with maintaining disease models (such as tumours, atherosclerosis etc.); with appropriate training, performing additional procedures to model disease states, including implanting and maintaining tumour xenografts, surgical procedures; assisting colleagues with animal dissection and histological preparation of vessels and organs.
• Storing, archiving and retrieving of imaging data and liaising with the Schools IT team.
• Assisting with collation and submission of animal records of all procedures for return of Home Office statistics.
• The post holder is required to have a solid understanding and experience in disaster recovery planning and implementation techniques to rapidly and efficiently resolve unexpected issues with preclinical imaging projects. This includes:
• Use of initiative to proactively help researchers resolve and reconcile complex and conflicting requests as they emerge to ensure smooth planning and successful imaging research.
• Liaise with other stakeholders to ensure equipment preventative maintenance, servicing and other lab specific works are done in compliance with regulations/contracts, in a timely and productive manner.
• Deputise for the Preclinical Imaging Operations Manager in certain duties including budget and project management, enforcing compliance with risk assessment, safety and regulatory affairs.
• Any other duties appropriate to the job as requested by the Head of Department/School or the Preclinical Operations Manager.
• Establish and maintain close working relationships with other technical imaging experts in the School and related departments, in particular from the PET Centre and Medical Physics.
• Additional training will be provided where required, with the potential of the post holder being trained to become a Radiation Protection Supervisor.
• The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Qualifications

Essential

• PhD qualified (or near completion) in Medical Physics/Imaging Biology/related field, or undergraduate qualification in a relevant discipline with experience equivalent to a PhD qualification in similar posts with evidence of increasing levels of responsibility.

Desirable

• Home Office Personal Licence.

Experience

Essential

• Sustained experience of working with small animal imaging (PET, SPECT, MR, Optical etc) or other medical imaging discipline.
• Experience of small animal disease models, anaesthesia, surgery, drug administration and other aspects of small animal experimentation and study design.
• Understanding and knowledge of hardware and software in relation to medical imaging with proven technical problem-solving and trouble-shooting abilities.
• Systematic approach to problem solving with evidence of strong critical thinking skills.
• Knowledge of a range of radionuclides and other ionising radiation, and the regulatory context of the use of radiation.
• Experience with data management, data reconstruction and analysis.
• Proven experience working with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, comfortable and confident to present area of responsibility and expertise to auditors and inspectors.

Desirable

• Experience with a range of radionuclides and other ionising radiation.
• Self-motivated, showing initiative, flexible and co-operative.
• Able to handle several projects at once and prioritise and work to targets and deadlines.
• statistical analytical skills and/or pharmacokinetic modelling.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens