Postdoc position at Danish Center for Particle Therapy

Aarhus University is inviting applications for a 3-year postdoc position at Danish Center for Particle Therapy (DCPT) within proton FLASH therapy research as per 1 March 2021, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is full time, i.e. 37 hours per week.
 

About the research project

The research project for the position falls within the topic of proton FLASH therapy research. FLASH therapy is a novel radiotherapy modality where the treatment is delivered at ultra-high dose rates. Pre-clinical FLASH studies have shown remarkable sparing of normal tissue with unaltered tumor response. The research project will investigate possibilities for clinical use of proton FLASH therapy by developing FLASH treatment planning and image-guided real-time tumor localization at DCPT. The project is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. It is part of a wider proton FLASH research program at DCPT with an overall goal of clinical translation of proton FLASH. Other ongoing studies include investigation of the FLASH effect in preclinical radiobiology experiments and the development of an ultrafast in vivo dosimetry system for proton FLASH.

Your job responsibilities

As Postdoc your position is primarily research-based but may also involve teaching assignments. You will contribute to the development of the department through research of high international quality. In your daily work, you will work closely with colleagues on your project, where you will receive supervision and guidance.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Independent research of high international quality, including publication.
• Develop proton FLASH therapy planning using scripting in a treatment planning system.
• Develop real-time target localization based on x-ray imaging during proton therapy delivery.
• Present your findings at conferences and through publications.
• Actively contribute to other related research projects in the group.

 

Your competences

You have academic qualifications at PhD level, preferably within one or more of the following areas: physics, medical physics or (bio-)engineering. Experiences in radiation oncology and treatment planning would be advantageous.

As a person you have good skills in computer programming including simulations and modelling as well as excellent analytical skills and ability to work independently on a project basis.

We expect you to be fluent in oral and written English. Good communication skills relevant for working in an international research group as well as good collaboration skills are also expected. In order to be assessed as qualified for a Postdoc position, you must meet these academic criteria.

About DCPT, Aarhus University

DCPT is located at Aarhus University Hospital and opened for proton therapy in January 2019. DCPT is a national facility that offers protocol-based proton therapy for cancer patients from all over Denmark in close collaboration with all Danish oncology departments. DCPT has an experimental room with a fixed horizontal beamline with the same nozzle, pencil beam scanning possibilities, and beam quality as the three clinical gantry rooms. The experimental beamline can additionally deliver proton beams with FLASH dose rates.

Further information

In addition to the mandatory documents mentioned below, please include your transcripts of records (grades etc. along with your diploma(S)), and at least one letter of support and 1-3 professional references.

For further information, please contact Professor Per Rugaard Poulsen, per.poulsen@rm.dk, +45 60284065.
Your place of work will be the Danish Center for Particle Therapy, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 25, DK-8200 Aarhus N.

Terms of employment

• Appointment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.
• Further information on the appointment procedure can be found in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
• The appointment is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• Remuneration is in accordance with the above, and the Salary agreement catalogue for staff at Health.
• The yearly base salary for a fulltime postdoc position with minimum 3 years of working experience after achieved MSc degree is DKK 486,969.17 or DKK 512,713.62 with minimum 4 years of working experience after achieved MSc degree. The base salary includes a position related supplement and pension (17.1 %). Additional supplement(s) for special qualifications can be negotiated. Authorisation supplemement(s) will be granted, if relevant for the position. Your local eligible trade union representative at Aarhus University negotiates your salary on your behalf.
• Researchers recruited from abroad are offered a special researcher tax scheme with a lower tax rate.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job description can be found in the.Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff

Application

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Diploma
• A list of publications
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios
• A maximum of five of the publications of greatest relevance to the job may be submitted
• Template for applicant - postdoc must be completed and uploaded under ‘Extra documents’
• Strategic research plan can be uploaded
• Coauthor statement(s) can be uploaded
• References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the e-recruitment system

We refer to the faculty’s Guidelines for applicants.

The assessment committee may decide to include non-submitted material in its statement. In such cases, you will be informed and obliged to submit material, unless your application is withdrawn.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

International applicant?

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here. Aarhus University also has a Junior Researcher Development Programme. You can read more about it here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.