Research Associate In Proton Therapy Detector Development

The University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employer contribution pension

29 days annual leave plus bank hols

Ride to work

EV car scheme

Job summary

The University of Manchester is seeking a Research Associate to contribute to a translational pilot project on a novel time-of-flight detector system for in‑vivo range verification in proton beam therapy. Based in the Division of Cancer Sciences, you will work with collaborators at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust to analyze data, validate technology and support project delivery.

You should have a PhD in physics, medical physics, engineering or a closely related discipline, with strong

Qualifications

• PhD (or near completion) in physics, medical physics, engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Experience in experimental research involving detectors, instrumentation or radiation physics.
• Ability to design and conduct experiments independently.
• Experience analysing complex data sets and interpreting results.
• Ability to work independently and with multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, construct and optimise a prototype time-of-flight range probe with ultra-fast silicon detectors.
• Plan and undertake measurements in the proton therapy facility to characterise performance and calibration.
• Carry out validation studies using phantom models and compare with clinical systems.
• Analyse data to assess precision, uncertainty and performance against objectives.
• Collaborate across the University of Manchester and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust to deliver the project.

Skills

Experimental research

Detectors

Data analysis

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in physics / medical physics / engineering or related

Job description

The University of Manchester is seeking to appoint a Research Associate to contribute to a short-term translational pilot project focused on the development and evaluation of a novel time-of-flight detector system for in-vivo range verification in proton beam therapy. Based within the Division of Cancer Sciences and working closely with collaborators at The Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the post offers an excellent opportunity to undertake experimental work in the proton research facility, analyse data to support validation of the technology and contribute to project delivery, dissemination of findings and outputs arising from the pilot study.

You should hold, or be close to completing, a PhD in physics, medical physics, engineering or a closely related discipline, with relevant experimental research experience in detectors, instrumentation or radiation physics. You should also be able to demonstrate strong analytical and data handling skills, experience of independent experimental work and the ability to contribute effectively within a multidisciplinary research team. Experience in proton therapy, fast timing techniques, Monte-Carlo methods or clinical research environments would be advantageous. This fixed-term post offers access to specialist proton therapy research infrastructure and close links to one of the UK's leading cancer centres. The University of Manchester is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

You will be responsible for:

• Design, construct and optimise a prototype time-of-flight based range probe integrating ultra-fast silicon detectors and timing electronics.
• Plan and undertake experimental measurements in the proton therapy research facility to characterise detector performance, timing resolution and calibration against proton range.
• Carry out validation studies using appropriate phantom models and compare findings with established clinical systems and detectors.
• Analyse and interpret experimental data to assess system precision, uncertainty and performance against project objectives.
• Work collaboratively with academic, clinical and technical colleagues across the University of Manchester and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust to support delivery of the project.

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

• PhD (or near completion) in physics, medical physics, engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Experience in experimental research involving detectors, instrumentation or radiation physics.
• Experience of designing and conducting experiments independently.
• Experience of analysing complex data sets and interpreting results.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across disciplines.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working with time-of-flight measurement techniques or fast timing electronics.
• Experience of working with Monte-Carlo simulation tools.
• Experience of in-vivo range verification research or related translational detector development.

We value transferable skills and real-world experience as much as formal qualifications.

Our benefits include:
Generous employer contribution pension
29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here .

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Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Dr Michael Taylor, Senior Lecturer in Proton Therapy Physics

Email Address: [e-mail]

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