Clinical Scientist (magnetic resonance physics and computing)

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Job overview

We offer an exciting opportunity for a clinical scientist specialist in MRI Physics and Scientific Computing to join our established team supporting the Neuroradiology service at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London.

We seek someone with enthusiasm for applying advanced imaging and clinical computing methods to benefit our patients, today as they attend our hospital, and in the future through service innovation and patient-focused translational research.

The post-holder will play a lead role at the interface between MRI physics and scientific computing, maintaining, improving and ensuring quality management of software pipelines for clinical image analysis, and supporting computational neuroradiology applications as well as our intra-operative surgical guidance system.

There will be opportunity for research in collaboration with the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, and the UCL Hawkes Institute, translating computational medical imaging innovations into the neuroradiology reporting and treatment-guidance workflow.
With a relevant MSc or higher degree, and significant postgraduate experience, you will be an HCPC-registered Clinical Scientist. Experience in scientific software development, neurosurgical guidance systems, advanced MR methods (fMRI/DTI and/or MRS), including clinical post processing software pipelines, and neuroimaging research is highly desirable.

Main duties of the job
• Collaborating within our group providing MRI physics and computing support to the MRI service at the National Hospital for Neurology, you will be responsible for optimising, maintaining and developing software code and/or pipelines necessary to support advanced MRI examinations (including clinical fMRI and DTI) analysis, and neuroradiology innovation projects, within appropriate quality management frameworks.
• You will join our team providing MRI physics and scientific computing support to the Department's intra-operative MRI service, including preparation of data for surgical guidance, and when required, an in-theatre presence for scientific support, including safety support, and imaging systems integration, to enable the successful completion of neurosurgical procedures
• Supporting the translation of new image fusion, image registration, advanced image analysis, and accelerated MRI acquisition methods from the research domain into clinical neuroradiology practice to improve diagnosis, treatment monitoring, pre-surgical planning, and service efficiency; and supporting the procurement and deployment of new commercial AI/computationally enabled neuroradiology reporting tools.
• Assisting with the maintenance and development of a small network of image-processing workstations and servers for quantitative image analysis, including system administration, data management, and software engineering activities

Working for our organisation

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 Hospitals

• 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

The Lysholm Department of Neuroradiology provides leading-edge neuroradiological services within the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, performing around 60,000 examinations and procedures per year, including CT, MRI, neuro-angiography and neuro-interventions, and ultrasound.

Our MRI facilities include a Siemens Vida (x3), and Skyra 3T systems, and a 1.5T Aera; scientific computing facilities include a local Linux network and access to centrally supported servers.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England - for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff - To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject
• A relevant postgraduate degree (MSc level or higher, or equivalent experience)
• Health and Care Professions Council-registration as a Clinical Scientist

Desirable criteria

• IPEM Diploma or equivalent specialist qualification in Medical Physics or Clinical Scientific Computing

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

• Expertise in magnetic resonance physics, including pulse sequences, image acquisition and optimisation, clinical applications, artefacts and MRI safety
• Specialist knowledge of medical image manipulation, medical image formats/standards, analysis methods, and the requisite software tools
• Practical experience of scientific software development
• In depth knowledge of at least one scientific programming language such as C/C++, Python, or Matlab
• Working understanding of relevant statutory guidelines, national standards, or other professional guidelines, including UK MHRA MR safety guidance, medical device regulations and information governance legislation.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of research techniques

Computing

Essential criteria

• Able to use Excel, Word, statistical analysis packages, databases etc. to set up documents and extract information
• Well-developed programming and software development skills
• Ability to work with Unix/Linux and Windows operating systems, including command line and scripting operation

Mental

Essential criteria

• Able to concentrate when subject to frequent unpredictable working patterns.
• Able to concentrate for prolonged periods

Emotional

Essential criteria

• Good negotiation skills
• Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations

Communication

Essential criteria

• Able to communicate complex information at postgraduate level to other professional groups

Desirable criteria

• Able to present scientific papers at national and international conferences
• Able to deliver teaching and training on complex subjects at university level

Personal and People Development

Essential criteria

• Able to train other professional staff individually or in groups
• Able to supervise trainees or students

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

Essential criteria

• Understanding of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives, and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties

Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised

Essential criteria

• Personal commitment to: become familiar with, and adhere to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control. complete all required training and education (both via e-learning and face to face) on infection prevention and control. include infection prevention and control as an integral part of your continuous personal/professional development and included in your annual appraisal take personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care associated infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently.

At UCLH, we have a real 'One Team' ethos, and our values - safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to:

We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.

Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage's staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.

We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.

We are also members of which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.

Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

For further support on submitting an application please refer to the NLPSS Applicant Toolkit:

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 648.3KB)
• Functional Requirements (PDF, 262.3KB)
• UCLH Values (PDF, 860.9KB)