Postdoctoral Research Associate - Radiation Oncology

Overview

Outstanding candidates are invited to apply for a medical physics postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Radiation Oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In this two-year position, you will benefit from world-class resources and exceptional training in a top-ranked research environment while helping to advance treatment options for children with cancer.

Research Focus

The primary focus of this postdoctoral research associate position is on using Big Data analytics tools to improve treatment plan quality in proton therapy. We are especially interested in understanding the roles of linear energy transfer and treatment plan robustness. Research aims include the following:

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  Contributing to data infrastructure efforts by reviewing clinical treatment plans, analyzing Monte Carlo dose distributions, and using good data practices

• Testing and validating novel analytics tools on curated data sets to better understand radiation therapy outcomes of children with cancer

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  Investigating ways in which artificial intelligence may contribute to improving outcomes models

St. Jude offers a collaborative research environment and exceptional support for scientific discovery. The successful candidate will work closely with the principal investigators, computational scientists, and students in the research group. The postdoctoral research associate will interact with radiation oncologists, information technology support staff, clinical therapy and physics staff, and clinical scientists. Research activities will include data collection, image analysis, dosimetry comparisons with treatment planning systems and Monte Carlo calculations, experimental validation with proton beams, and report and manuscript preparation. Opportunities to gain clinical experience in proton and photon radiotherapy physics may be made available pending adequate research progress.

Resources and Equipment

As part of the Department of Radiation Oncology, the postdoctoral research associate will have access to world-class resources, including the world’s first proton therapy center with pencil-beam scanning technology that is designated solely for treating pediatric cancer, a detector-based spectral CT scanner that was the first in the world to be installed in a radiation oncology department, state-of-the-art 1.5T and 3T MR scanners, and a recently installed digital PET/CT scanner. The department also has a full suite of radiation oncology software, including Eclipse, RayStation, and Pinnacle treatment planning systems and MiM Maestro.

Contact Information

Austin M. Faught, PhD, DABR

Assistant Member, Department of Radiation Oncology

262 Danny Thomas Place

Memphis, TN 38105

E-mail: austin.faught@stjude.org | Web: www.stjude.org/faught

Successful applicants will have a PhD or DSc degree in medical physics, biomedical engineering, radiological sciences, or other relevant engineering or physical sciences. The candidate should have excellent writing and speaking skills and strong knowledge and experience in analytical and scientific programming, with a preference for experience in MATLAB, Python, and/or C#.

COVID-19 vaccine:
As of September 10, 2021, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for all employees, excluding those with an approved medical or religious accommodation, as a condition of employment.
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