Senior Clinical Scientist (Medical Physicist) –Clinical Trials Lead 8a

This is a fixed term (24 months) role in the first instance to assess the ongoing viability of the position. The role has been created in response to rapid growth in clinical trial activity and the need for the NHS to meet timelines for trial delivery. The post holder will lead scientific support for both internally and externally led clinical trials within the department. They will also contribute to wider research and development activities, including the implementation of new post treatment imaging protocols and dosimetry for molecular radiotherapy trials. The post holder will require MPE certification or expect to gain certification imminently (within 3 months). Approximately 25% of time will be dedicated to duty physics rotas across diagnostic and molecular radiotherapy services. The post holder will join an established team of 10 clinical scientists. The team includes four Band 7 scientists, three Band 8a leads, and three physics assistants. The post holder will work very closely with these colleagues, who alongside the Head and Deputy Head of NM Physics and Principal Physicist in molecular radiotherapy and the INM Research Manager, will be able to support the post holder to quickly become established in this role. This position offers an excellent opportunity to develop expertise in nuclear medicine within a leading centre delivering cutting edge techniques in molecular radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging.

Main duties of the job

• Develop our international reputation for delivering world-leading research with our key partner UCL, and deepen our relationships with other academic, research and industry partners.
• Support Trust obligation to deliver trial setup within 150-day turnaround time, as per the Department of Health and Social Care's 10-year plan.
• Actively contribute to work of clinical scientist team, providing highly specialist scientific and technical support to clinical and research activities of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine.
• Actively contribute to provision of Duty Physicist cover to the Clinical NM service.
• Comply with Trust and department systems, procedures and tests to assure compliance with regulatory requirements in management of radiation protection.
• Comply with research governance documentation.
• Participate in research and development projects undertaken by the department including external collaborations.
• Submit research for publication and presentation at scientific and professional meetings.
• Deliver training, education and supervision of staff, students and visitors.
• Work to acquire familiarity with scientific, clinical and professional developments as they arise in both NM and other related fields.
• Maintain high professional standards at all times.
• Schedule and prioritise workloads to meet unpredictable demands of the job.

About Us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research. We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites: University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing), National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospital, University College Hospital Grafton Way Building, Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre, The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street. We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology. We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Person Specification

Essential

• Bachelor's degree plus master's degree in physics or other relevant subject, or equivalent.
• Formal Medical Physics training, including substantial content of Nuclear Medicine, delivered through a recognised training scheme.
• UK State Registration as a Clinical Scientist through the HCPC.
• RPA2000 Certification as a Medical Physics Expert or sufficient experience.

Desirable

• Doctoral degree (PhD), or equivalent knowledge and experience.

Essential

• A thorough knowledge of the principles and practice of nuclear medicine in a clinical context, to include a full understanding of:
• The physics of nuclear medicine, and the principles of operation of radiation detectors.
• Current diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures.
• The operation of current nuclear medicine SPECT/CT and PET/CT equipment and image processing workstations.
• Equipment calibration, quality assurance and performance assessment.
• The principles and practice of internal radiation dosimetry, sufficient to perform estimates of the patient dose arising from non-standard procedures.
• Radiation safety legislation and practice, the safe use of unsealed radioactive materials.
• Current methodologies for the processing and analysis of nuclear medicine, SPECT, PET and CT image data.
• Windows operating system and PC applications software including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, web browsers, mail tools.
• Experience in local set-up of clinical trials.

Desirable

• Capability consistent with significant relevant post-graduate experience of the duties of this post, including that typical of some exposure in nuclear medicine.
• An understanding of:
• Statistical methods appropriate for analysis of nuclear medicine data.
• Techniques for image fusion and registration.
• Techniques for kinetic modelling.
• Monte Carlo modelling.
• Windows/Linux/Unix operating systems.
• Clinical applications software, VBasic, C/C++, IDL, scripting languages, website development, databases.
• Clinical governance and audit, NHS research strategy etc.
• The presentation of scientific findings at conferences and seminars, and their publication in peer-reviewed literature.

Essential

• The ability to analyse and solve complex scientific and technical problems, particularly under pressure.
• A demonstrated commitment to clinical research and development.
• Ability to plan and prioritise own workload.
• Ability to oversee and delegate tasks.
• Committed to participating fully in the delivery of a professional, high-quality clinical service.
• Personal drive and direction, and the ability to work autonomously.
• The ability to deal with highly complex facts and situations in order to help formulate solutions to trial related issues within INM and partner departments.

Desirable

• Experience of project management.
• Ability to organise project team.

Essential

• Able to communicate highly complex information effectively with colleagues across all disciplines and levels of responsibility in a professional manner.
• Able to communicate specialist scientist information to staff and patients under often-stressful conditions.

Desirable

• The ability to generate clear and concise reports, summarising the findings of audit or the critical assessment of processes and procedures.

Essential

• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team with a demonstrable commitment to participate fully in delivering a professional, high-quality clinical service.

Desirable

• To undertake formal teaching and lecturing as required in support of internally and externally organised courses, contributing also to the formal and informal education and training of visitors of all staff groups to the department.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. 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. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.