Job Description

Job Title: Research Associate in Medical image Computing: Image guided liver surgery.

Grade: 7

Salary range: Spine point 29-36: £28,839 - £35,469 + £2781 London Allowance P.A.

Hours of work: The hours of work for teaching/research staff are not fixed, but members of staff are expected to work the hours necessary for the proper performance of the duties that come within the scope of the post. Departmental arrangements for any required core working hours are as agreed with the Head of Department

Duration of appointment: The posts will be funded for 18 months in the first instance.

Department/section: Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics & Bioengineering

Main appointment site:UCL Gower Street Campus

Reports to: Prof. David Hawkes.

Responsible to: The Head of the Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering (Prof. Jem Hebden)

Overview of main function of the post:

The postdoctoral position is in the area of image guided liver surgery. The projects will involve image registration, motion and soft tissue modelling. It will also involve development of new algorithms and the assembly of a system for trialling in the clinical environment with close involvement of clinical groups at UCH and beyond. UCL is one of the largest centres for biomedical research in Europe and is ranked 6th worldwide. CMIC has excellent access to state-of-the-art clinical and pre-clinical imaging and therapeutic facilities as well as access to one of the largest compute resources in the UK. CMIC is based in central London at the main UCL campus, very close to the clinical facilities at UCH Hospitals.

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Main Duties and Responsibilities:

1.  To devise novel image analysis techniques which model the deformation of the liver during minimally-invasive surgical procedures.

2.  To validate all methods developed as rigorously as is reasonably possible given the resources available by using computer simulation, phantom, and in vivo data.

3.  To develop a system for image guided surgery in a clinical environment.

4.  To undertake translational research in which algorithms for motion modelling and soft tissue modelling are made available for clinical evaluation by implementing them within a demonstration image-guided system.

5.  To undertake research and development according to the work-plan, and in particular to apply scientific rigour to this activity.

6.  To actively engage with clinical collaborators in order to better understand the clinical problems which motivate the research and to ensure that the solutions developed are clinically viable.

7.  To disseminate the results of the research among project collaborators, and among the wider scientific community via publications in peer-reviewed, high-impact scientific journals and presentations at national and international scientific conferences.

8.  To attend regular meetings, workshops and training as required.

9.  To help in the preparation of public presentations of the group's research activities.

10. To actively promote the research and raise the public profile of the host department.

11. As the duties and responsibilities may change, this job description will be reviewed and amended in consultation with the postholder on a regular basis.

12. The postholder will carry out any other duties within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the line manager or Head of Centre/Department

13. The postholder will actively follow UCL policies including Equal Opportunities and Race Equality policies

14. The postholder will maintain an awareness and observation of Fire and Health & Safety Regulations.

Person Specification

Research Associate in Medical image computing: Image guided liver surgery and colon cancer detection

CRITERIA / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Education: / . / .
Good honours degree or equivalent in either engineering, physics, or computer science / * / .
A PhD in a relevant field. / *
Experience: / . / .
Two years minimum experience in scientific programming using C/ C++ and Matlab / *
Experience in application of soft tissue and motion modelling / **
A good understanding of the principles and practical aspects of medical image processing and analysis / *
A demonstrable record of publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and/or conference proceedings / *
A demonstrable record of presentations at scientific meetings / *
An ability to assemble scientific equipment for use in a clinical environment / *
Aptitudes:
/ . / .
Good written and spoken English / * / .
Demonstrable aptitude for research / * / .
Good problem solving skills / . *
Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team / * / .