Senior Physicist in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Clinical Scientific/Technical

1.1 Develop, implement and manage an auditable Quality Assurance programme for the highly complex, patient-critical MRI systems to ensure optimum quality for conventional and advanced CMR. Perform any other checks as may be necessary. Participate in acceptance testing on new or upgraded MR installations. Create and develop systems and software solutions for the archiving and enhanced analysis of QA data. Specify, perform, interpret and advise on routine QA procedures and advise on action to address inadequate performance.

• Contribute to the provision of comprehensive, accessible and relevant MR safety advice to the Trusts, KCL and all relevant staff. Propose changes to policies and procedures in MR facilities in the light of complex legislation, guidelines, standards and practices, taking account of clinical experience and highly specialist scientific knowledge. Perform periodic review and update of Local Rules to ensure compliance with current national and international guidelines (NRPB, IEC, European Directives) and relevance to current service requirements. Co-ordinate and perform staff training on these safety requirements including practicing of emergency procedures in the MRI Unit. Work with staff locally to ensure adherence to safe systems of work within areas to which Local Rules apply.

• Supervise investigations on individual patients using advanced CMR techniques. Ensure that written and verbal scientific information given to patients regarding the technique is accurate and appropriate and that all necessary ethics approval has been obtained. Perform post-processing and analysis of complicated CMR patient data and assist in their clinical interpretation.

• In consultation with radiological and radiographic staff use highly specialist knowledge of MR physics to progressively optimise scanning techniques and protocols relevant to current clinical service needs and maintain records of results. Advise on image quality.

• Provide physics support for the translation of innovative research techniques into clinical practice, including the implementation of new imaging and spectroscopy techniques, writing and adaptation of relevant software, performance of measurements, developing and executing appropriate quality control procedures and complex data analysis. Bring new physics research developments into clinical use in a user friendly form. Provide scientific and technical support for other clinical and scientific R&D programmes within the Trusts and Medical School. This may involve an on-call, out of hours commitment.

• Evaluate complex MR artefacts in clinical patient data. Analyse and identify possible causes and provide immediate advice on their reduction or elimination.

• Perform first line troubleshooting for faults, which may be complex, non-reproducible and subtle, on highly-complex patient-critical MRI systems and extensive complicated auxiliary equipment (e.g. chilled water plant, air conditioning/handling units) and make decisions on whether faults require immediate remedial action. Work/liaise with manufacturers engineering and technical staff to identify and rectify equipment faults to minimise system down time. In conjunction with the Trusts technical staff and outside contractors implement and supervise preventative maintenance systems. Train radiographic staff in aspects of fault finding and rectification and ensure that written procedures are available for dealing with common fault situations. Maintain an overview of the proper operation of supporting plant, particularly with respect to functioning of indicators, proper setting of control parameters, maintenance of appropriate environmental conditions within the Unit.

• Maintain an overview of the proper operation of supporting plant, particularly with respect to functioning of indicators, proper setting of control parameters, maintenance of appropriate environmental conditions within the Unit.

• Provide support and expert advice for the procurement of major items of new or replacement MR equipment (hardware and software) and associated site requirements for the Trust.

• Initiate and develop software solutions for specific clinical and research goals, eg image analysis. Use spreadsheet and database software to manage data and extract information. Administrate small scale computer systems.

1. Managerial

• Prioritise own work in accordance with Departmental and Trust priorities and external demands, adapting as required to the demands of an unpredictable work pattern. Meet expected results by using own initiative and following general principles and applicable regulations, standards and guidelines. Instigate and manage scientific and service development projects involving changes to practices.

• Supervise and take responsibility for the work of other Medical Physicists and staff when they are performing work under the post holders direction.

• Keep careful records of all work performed and complete other appropriate records.

• Provide written work-place procedures, Local Rules and documentation for the department and Trust/KCL as required.

• Prepare applications to Local Research Ethics Committees and NHS Research Authorisation Committee.

• Supervise report-writing of students and trainees

3. Teaching, training and research

• Deliver substantial teaching input to MR teaching programmes at the Trust and KCL. Undertake student assessment.

• Supervise individual BSc and MSc research projects.

• Undertake and supervise the practical training of supernumerary Medical Physicists in Magnetic Resonance, as part of the Kings, Guys & St Thomas training centre, including responsibility for delivery of theoretical and practical training of trainee and junior clinical scientists in magnetic resonance.

• Organise and deliver comprehensive, accessible and relevant physics training in highly complex Magnetic Resonance theory, practice and safety to radiographic, technical and other staff and students using MR scanners or working in the MR environment.

• Organise, deliver and record relevant training in Magnetic Resonance safety to all Trust and non-Trust personnel where required

• Engage in local and national R&D programmes in collaboration with the Medical School, other Trust and KCL Departments and external organisations as a major job requirement, to meet strategic objectives of the Trust. The Trust and Medical School perform internationally leading research in MR, and the post holders work in this area will have impact throughout the NHS and beyond, both within the UK and internationally.

• Initiate, generate and undertake research, development and clinical trials as a major job requirement to support the translation of basic research findings into clinical practice.

• Coordinate and project manage research and development projects.

• Ensure dissemination of R&D results. Publish and present scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and at scientific conferences.

4. Professional

• Keep abreast of the latest technical and scientific developments and their applications in medical and associated fields. Attend suitable seminars, courses and scientific and medical meetings as part of personal development and to further the work of the Department and Trust.

• Actively participate in Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme.

• Attend suitable seminars and courses as part of personal development.

• Contribute to national and international developments in MR Physics and MR safety.

• Participate in the affairs of the medical physics profession at a national level.

• Ensure all activities meet regulatory requirements.

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

• Good (1st or 2nd class) Honours degree in a relevant subject
• Relevant MSc or equivalent
• State registration as a Clinical Scientist or ability to achieve within a reasonable timescale
• Advanced knowledge of patient procedures and of problems arising from system errors, equipment failure and clinical factors
• Advanced specialist knowledge of MR techniques and clinical applications

Desirable

• Completion of Scientist Training Programme in Medical Physics, or equivalent
• STP specialism (or equivalent) ideally in Imaging Using Non- ionising Radiation.
• Relevant PhD

Experience

Essential

• Highly developed specialist knowledge across the full range of working procedures and practices in MR physics, preferably in the highly specialised and demanding field of CMR
• Experience in MR clinical research and development, with a proportion being in the highly specialised and demanding field of cardiovascular imaging
• Specialist training and practical experience with a wide range of MR systems
• Previous research experience

Desirable

• Working experience of other cardiovascular medical imaging techniques

Skills

Essential

• Able to prioritise and manage own work
• Able to exercise own initiative when dealing with issues within own specialist area of competence and within broader areas of MR Physics.
• High level ability in MR sequence programming
• Ability to write computer programs to process data and simulate experiments
• Able to use Excel, Word Access etc to set up documents and spreadsheets and extract information.
• In depth understanding of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines
• Highly developed physical accuracy and dexterity, for making precision measurements and adjustments on equipment
• Use of fine tools for equipment adjustment
• Able to lift medium/heavy weights (e.g. quality assurance phantoms, MR imaging coils)
• Able to concentrate frequently when subject to unpredictable working patterns
• Able to concentrate for prolonged periods [e.g. checking MR system set ups and calibration]
• Able to deal with occasional distressing circumstances [work occasionally involves contact with patients]
• Able to communicate highly complex information [e.g. postgraduate level physics material to other professional groups]
• Able to present scientific papers at national and international conferences
• Able to train groups of other professional staff
• Able to develop and deliver teaching and training on complex subjects
• Good negotiation skills
• A positive 'can do' attitude and a positive attitude to change
• Able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations
• Understanding of hazards posed by, and precautions needed with: o Intense magnetic fields o Sources of high voltage o High power radiofrequency fields

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).