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About the role
The High Energy Physics group at UCL invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) diagnostics development.
A detector is currently under development within the group — the Quality Assurance Detector for Proton Beam Therapy (QuADProBe) — to make fast, accurate measurements of proton beam spot position, size and range in water (Water Equivalent Path Length) at clinical PBT facilities as part of the Quality Assurance (QA) procedure required for safe treatment. This will incorporate the highly successful Quality Assurance Range Calorimeter (QuARC) that is in the advanced stages of development for fast and accurate proton range measurements. The successful applicant will be expected to take a leading role in the detector development, with a focus on the data acquisition and readout, including the development of the beam position readout system and front-end interface.
Applicants should possess a PhD in high energy physics, medical physics or a related discipline. Prior experience with detector hardware development, data acquisition and software analysis is essential. Prior experience clinical detector systems, with FPGA programming, detector front end electronics and the C++ programming language is desirable. Knowledge of analogue circuit design, analogue light readout systems, the Geant4 simulation package and related high energy physics data analysis packages, such as ROOT, is also desirable but not essential.
This position is funded for 24 months/two years in the first instance. The PI is seeking an extension to this grant so there is a possibility that this post will also be extended.
The full job description, contact details and application process can be found by clicking on the ‘Apply’ button above.
About you
The successful applicant will have a PhD in high energy physics, medical physics or a related subject and will have detailed knowledge of high energy physics or medical physics detector systems, in particularly with data acquisition and detector readout, with hands-on experience of designing, simulating, building and commissioning such systems. The fellow will join the proton beam therapy detector group within High Energy Physics. Experience with the design, assembly and testing of the relevant detector systems is essential. Advanced knowledge of proton beam therapy detectors and diagnostics and modern data analysis tools and techniques is highly desirable. Some experience with FPGA programming, detector front end electronics and the C++ programming language would be desirable. Knowledge of analogue circuit design, analogue light readout systems, the Geant4 simulation package and related high energy physics data analysis packages, such as ROOT, is also desirable but not essential. Candidates should also have excellent written and verbal communication.