The Department of Radiology at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine is recruiting for an Imaging Physicist at the EXPLORER Molecular Imaging Center (EMIC). This is a full-time academic position at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank in the Health Sciences Clinical Professor (HSCP) or Clinical Research (Clin X) series (commensurate with credentials).

Faculty in the HSCP series are expected to engage in teaching, demonstrate professional competence and activity, scholarly or creative work, and University and public service.

Faculty in the Clinical “X” series are expected to engage in professional competence and activity, teaching, research and creative work, and University/public service.

The EXPLORER scanner, first and only Total Body PET (TB-PET) scanner approved by the FDA in the United States, is a high sensitivity total-body positron emission tomography (PET) scanner useful for a wide range of biomedical research applications in human patients and volunteers. It is housed at the EXPLORER Molecular Imaging Center (EMIC) and used for patients and research purposes.

Expectations:

The Imaging Physicist will be expected to provide expert diagnostic imaging physics support to the total-body PET research and clinical operations at EMIC. Responsibilities will include providing physics support to the clinical imaging operation to ensure top-quality clinical service, working with physicians to address issues relating to clinical image quality, addressing issues related to shielding and patient dosimetry as required, managing the quality control of the scanner and supporting hardware (hot lab and metabolites lab), facilitating data flow, data integrity, and data processing pipelines, maintaining inventory and appropriate supply of research supplies and hardware, ensuring compliance of Radiation and Biological Use Authorizations for the Center and its research operations, and maintaining scanner and facility certifications. Additionally, they will serve as a site manager for building-related technical issues. The Imaging Physicist will develop clinical and research protocols, in collaboration with clinicians and PIs, and SOPs for laboratory and research activities. They will be expected to teach imaging science, software use, and matters relating to protocols to trainees (including undergraduates, graduate students and fellows) and visiting faculty. The Imaging Physicist also is expected to provide mentorship to trainees working within the Center, and run meetings and seminars to promote the exchange of research results and scientific ideas. There will be opportunities to provide didactic teaching to residents in the School of Medicine and the School of Veterinary Medicine, and to students in the College of Engineering.  The Imaging Physicist will provide oversight and operational coordination of technical (physics) and translational (human subjects) research. They will serve as a liaison between EMIC and its strategic industrial and extramural academic partners and facilitate good relations with these entities, particularly with United Imaging Healthcare and Northern California PET Imaging Center. They will lead communication channels between the technologist team, the research staff team, and the center leadership. The Imaging Physicist will also participate in collaborative research in total-body PET/CT as well as undertake independent research.

The Imaging Physicist will be expected to present their research at national and international conferences, and to publish their work in peer-reviewed journals. Given the transformative nature of TB-PET technology, and the early stage of the field,  we expect the Image Physicist to develop a national and international profile as an expert in the field and to develop a national leadership role in creating standards and methods for this technology. There will be scope, but not a requirement, for the Imaging Physicist to obtain independent extramural funding.

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Ph.D. in Physics, Engineering, Imaging Science or a related field
• Track record of conducting research in the field of positron emission tomography
• Experience of providing technical support and quality control in a clinical imaging environment
• Experience with information technology and data handling in the medical imaging context
• Evidence of scholarly activity demonstrated by publications in high-quality peer-reviewed scientific journals and presentations at national/international conferences
• Motivation to work with researchers, clinicians and technologists in a team environment
• Ability to work cooperatively and collegially in a diverse environment

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with multi-disciplinary collaboration across a wide range of medical disciplines
• Experience in academic teaching at the graduate and undergraduate level and with residents
• Experience in academic mentoring
• Experience with academic/industry partnerships
• Evidence of creative/academic activities and interest in image reconstruction, image processing and machine learning
• Diagnostic imaging physics certification (ABR, ABSNM or equivalent)
• Experience in DEI initiatives in the Radiology context

The salary range for this position is $145,000 – $190,000. This position includes membership in the Health Sciences Compensation Plan.

Interested applicants should upload a cover letter outlining job interest and work experience, a statement of research, a statement of contributions to diversity, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact info of three to five professional references.

Completed applications will be reviewed on a regular basis with the first review on May 29, 2023, however, the position will remain open until filled or through the search end date. Qualified applicants should apply online at UC Recruit: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF05393

The Medical Center is located in Sacramento, in the heartland of California. Sacramento, ranked as the #1 place to live in California in 2023 by Forbes, is a vibrant, culturally diverse rapidly growing city. It offers year-round temperate weather and easy access to San Francisco, the California coast, several wine regions including Napa and Sonoma, Lake Tahoe and the Sierra mountain ranges. Sacramento is known for being America’s farm to fork capital with an outstanding restaurant scene and year-round farmers’ markets. Great neighborhoods with excellent schools can be found in Sacramento and the surrounding area. Sacramento is also home to the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association.