Preclinical Senior Technical OfficerNHS

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.

Job description

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.

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.