Postdoctoral Training Fellow - Pre-Clinical MRI for Adaptive Radiotherapy

The Institute of Cancer Research, London, is one of the world’s most influential cancer research institutes, with an outstanding record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. We provided the first convincing evidence that DNA damage is the basic cause of cancer, laying the foundation for the now universally accepted idea that cancer is a genetic disease. Today, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) leads the world at isolating cancer-related genes and discovering new targeted drugs for personalised cancer treatment.

The pre-clinical magnetic resonance team, led by Dr. Simon Robinson, is focused on the application of both established and innovative, quantitative functional MRI techniques to identify case-specific imaging biomarkers in models of cancer in vivo, thereby establishing their utility to correctly inform on i) the pathology and processes relevant to a particular cancer type, and ii) response/resistance to treatment against these processes. There is a strong emphasis on the development of quantitative MRI biomarkers that can be realistically translated and prove informative in aligned imaging investigations of cancer patients.

Through programme grant funding from Cancer Research UK, an early-stage post-doctoral training fellow position is available to exploit MRI for adaptive radiotherapy in pre-clinical models of cancer. We are looking for a highly motivated and creative individual to evaluate the utility of MRI-derived biomarkers of tumour hypoxia to predict radiation response, and their potential use in enhancing radiotherapy efficacy, using a small animal radiation research platform (SARRP).

The position will be based within the Centre for Cancer Imaging, which provides an integrated environment for multi-modality pre-clinical imaging, co-locating a pre-clinical 7T MRI system with the SARRP. The position will provide excellent opportunities to interact within a multidisciplinary environment of staff within imaging, radiotherapy, drug development and molecular pathology teams, and explore new avenues of research.

Applicants should possess a PhD in physical or biomedical science, and ideally have demonstrated excellence in the field of pre-clinical MRI and/or radiotherapy, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and productivity during their PhD studies.

Appointment will be on a Fixed Term Contract for 3 years in the first instance. The starting salary is £37,850 per annum (£32,200 for pre-viva post-holders)