Req #: 228733 Department: RADIATION ONCOLOGY Job Location: UW Medical Center - Montlake Posting Date: 11/15/2023 Closing Info: Open Until Filled Salary: $9,353 - $13,334 per month Other Compensation: Shift: First Shift Benefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.
As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
POSITION PURPOSE
This position carries responsibility for operations, maintenance and upgrades of the clinical cyclotron facility at the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC), a unique system with only a few similar installations world-wide. The primary objective is to ensure the facility can safely and reliably deliver particle beams for neutron radiation therapy, isotope production, and medical research. The position is also required to develop new equipment, methods, and particle beams in response to changing clinical and research requirements.
Complexities include: Operating, maintaining, and upgrading a one-of-a-kind particle accelerator. Developing safety and control systems for novel particle therapy modalities. Developing equipment for collimating and monitoring beam intensities and profiles, and novel equipment used in the bombardment of isotope target material. Developing methods for constructing and thin plating of isotope production targets based on Nuclear and thermal modeling of target systems, to predict target efficacy and ensure a minimum level of safety. Designing and developing radiation effects testing methods and equipment. Leading and mentoring undergraduate and graduate UW engineering students to complete capstone projects required for degree programs.
The University of Washington has the only operating fast neutron therapy facility, the only US facility able to produce the novel therapeutic isotope 211-At for clinical trials, and the only regional facility able to provide medium energy protons and fast neutron for radiation effects testing. This position is absolutely critical to supporting all of these programs. These programs are key to multimillions in grant funding at UW and FHCRC and directly affect UWMC patient care.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This position carries responsibility for operations, maintenance, and upgrades of the clinical cyclotron facility at the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC), a unique system with only a few similar installations world-wide. The primary objective is to ensure the facility can safely and reliably deliver particle beams for neutron radiation therapy, isotope production, and medical research. The position is also required to develop new equipment, methods, and particle beams in response to changing clinical and research requirements. This position is responsible for all technical and budgetary decisions regarding the Clinical Neutron Therapy System program and directing and technical and support staff in the operation of the facility as related to fast neutron therapy production. This position also leads Radiation Effects testing efforts and Isotope Targetry design.
25% – Machine Subsystem development:

Develop new particle beams (energy and particle type) for isotope production and radiation effects testing. Development includes accelerator tuning, beamline tuning, and beamline elements such as scatterers and degraders, to be developed using MCNP or other such nuclear modeling programs.

Develop, advance, and refine equipment, processes, and procedures to improve fast neutron therapy, especially as it relates to the novel intensity modulated neutron therapy (IMNT) as well as temporally (FLASH) and spatially (mini-beam) fractionated proton therapy. Represent facility nationally and internationally through conferences (PTCOG, ASTRO, AAPM, etc.),
10% – Development of novel beamline equipment:

The UWMCF accelerator is unique in that, unlike almost all other accelerators of its size, it can produce variable energy beams of protons, alpha particles, deuterons, and 3He, whereas most other accelerators can only produce fixed or limited energy protons beams. These other unique beams require a unique set of diagnostic equipment that isn’t commercially available and must be developed in-house or in collaboration with other universities, national labs, and experts in the commercial sector. Developing this equipment requires an in-depth knowledge a broad range of topics including low noise electronics, electrical shielding techniques, particle beam optics, thermal analysis and modeling,
30% – Control and Safety System Development:

Develop all new controls and safety projects. Assign implementation tasks to engineering staff and supervise work. Represent facility at national and international level through invited talks (ICALEPCS, CARRI, SNEAP, etc), published work, and collaborative efforts

System upgrades in support of all of our programs including:

Analog circuit design and component level troubleshooting

Legacy system modernization

Logic circuitry troubleshooting and digitizing (both analog and FPGA based)

New equipment integration (power supplies and control circuits, beamline diagnostics, special projects)
10% – Radiation Effect Testing operations and development:

Address burgeoning radiation effects test marketplace and develop new particle beams and novel test bed equipment to address needs and attract customers. Represent facility at national radiation effects conferences such as NSREC.
5% – Accelerator operations:

Direct and/or take over tuning operation from junior staff when accelerator conditions are unstable or require an expert hand. Direct staff when system troubleshooting efforts of junior staff have stalled. Ensure safety of patients and staff during operations
10% – Facility maintenance:

Define and develop advanced maintenance procedures for critical structures including High Power RF and all control system equipment
5% – Student mentoring:

Each year the UWMCF hosts a team of three to six engineers from the UW Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (CSE) to design and develop research and/or production equipment and systems for the facility, for which they receive undergraduate credits. Additionally, they enter their work in the annual CSE student showcase and engineering competition. This position defines the student project, supervises the students work, and mentors them through the presentation showcase.
5% – Isotope production and research:

Design and develop processes and equipment to advance novel isotope production systems including target stations. Participate in isotope production runs.

Identify isotope target material based on emerging theranostic demands, nuclear cross sections applicable to available facility particle beams, UW Medicine research requests as well as Department of Energy market demands. Develop optimal target composition and configuration through nuclear, thermal, fluids, and mechanical modeling. Direct UWMCF staff in target construction and testing.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

PhD in engineering or physics plus 6 years minimum experience required OR equivalent combination of education and experience.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Expert knowledge of operating a particle accelerator under routine conditions as well as under non-standard conditions.

Ability to quickly assess failures and either correct them within minutes or postpone operations.

Have a logic approach to problems, in particular with regard to trouble-shooting, interpretation of readouts, design of experiments and interpretation of data.

Have experience with mechanical assemblies; recognize dangers and limitations, in particular where heavy equipment is involved.

Have experience with electric and electronic technology, computer controls and use of electronic test equipment.

Be familiar with high voltage and high power RF equipment.

Expert knowledge of nuclear physics experimentation techniques, data acquisition and design of experiments to support ongoing or planned clinical studies.

Expert knowledge of isotope targetry, beam optics, and isotope production modeling.

Have experience with radiation producing equipment and with handling of radioactive parts.

Have experience developing and maintaining >$1million spare parts inventory.

Have knowledge of vacuum technology, RF technology, analog and digital circuitry, computer controls, nuclear instrumentation, optical surveying equipment and a wide variety of other related fields.

Proficiency with technical writing, as exemplified by research publications and technical reports.

Experience with the design, construction and testing of complex real time computer control systems.

Experience working with computer controlled radiation treatment machinery.

Experience with EPICS or other large scale control system development toolkit.

Experience with safety critical software development.

Experience with mechanical CAD systems such as SpaceClaim and AutoCad Fusion.

Experience with 3-D printing.

Experience with nuclear and thermal modeling software such as MCNPX and Fluent.

Experience with electro-deposition and electroplating systems.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Be familiar with patient-related dosimetry, in particular regarding the special requirements for the neutron beam.

Experience working in a medical clinic environment.

Have ability to develop and manage facility budget.

Experience working with a variable energy cyclotron with multiple beamline.

Experience managing and mentoring undergraduate and graduate engineering teams on technically advanced project.

Experience with metrology survey systems such as FARO Vantage.

Experience with machine shop tools such as drill press, vertical mill, lathe, grinder, radial arm saw.
Application Process:The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.