Research Dosimetrist - Radiation Physics

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston is one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. It was named the nation's No. 1 hospital for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report's 2018 rankings. It is one of the nation's original three comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute.

The research dosimetrist will work in a research group developing automated contouring and treatment planning solutions for clinics in low- and middle-income countries. Our goal is to offer automated contours and plans that are the same quality as are available for our own patients. The research dosimetrist will bring practical clinical skills to our group, serve as a source of information on clinical practices, and will support the development of new automated planning approaches. This will include the use of RapidPlan for VMAT planning.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
Clinical Competencies

a. Competently performs external beam treatment planning and dose calculations for safe effective radiation treatment delivery.
b. Maintains & demonstrates knowledge on all the latest guidelines, policies and procedures specific to medical dosimetry including but not limited to, basic competencies, skill specific competencies, and institutional and departmental policies.
c. Performs uncertainty analysis for proton treatment plans to establish their robustness utilizing custom software.
d. Calculate radiation doses for patient records.

e. Collaborates with the clinical treatment planning team on translational activities needed to optimize both proton and photon treatment delivery.

Critical Thinking Skills

a. Manages research and patient data to include data collection and data entry into various research databases.
b. Performs uncertainty analysis for proton treatment plans to establish their robustness utilizing custom software.
c. Actively and skillfully conceptualizes, applies, analyzes, synthesizes, and/or evaluates information gathered through observation, experience, reasoning, and/or communication as a guide to action in daily clinical activities.
d. Develop, in conjunction with physics staff, calculative techniques for routine and/or special dosimetry calculations.
e. Correspond with external collaborators regarding questions about individual data and general radiotherapy procedures.
f. Identifies and proactively anticipates challenges and plan for changes by providing input or generating new ideas and solutions.
g. Demonstrates ability to solve complex problems through creative critical thinking skills with minimal supervision from other team members.

Staff Support

a. Serve as a resource to staff for training and questions related to Late Effects and TLD services.
b. Provide quality assurance of the irradiations of standards and controls.
c. Assist the principal investigator to plan new models of Varian's RapidPlan™ knowledge-based planning.
d. Correspond with external collaborators regarding questions about individual patient records, share treatment planning models, and general radiotherapy procedures.

Education and Mentoring

a. Understands the role and promotes teamwork in serving as a resource and mentor.
b. Exhibits competence in applying effective mentoring practices through demonstrations and/or presentations.
c. Assists in the development and integration of and training for new image processing and imaging registration tools for treatment planning.
d. Uses core values to support mentee through identifying needs and advocating when/where appropriate so the mentee acquires new knowledge and skills.
e. Demonstrates self-motivation to pursue learning and self-development.
f. Actively seeks feedback to maximize potential, develop skills, and improve performance.
g. Recognizes, acknowledges, and builds upon the abilities and contributions of the mentee to nurture a productive relationship.
h. Confidently shares successful and unsuccessful learning experiences to foster the exploration of options and joint problem solving.

Other duties as assigned

Education
Required: Bachelor's degree in Physics or graduate of hospital or college affiliated medical dosimetry school with clinical and classroom curriculum for duration of one year.

Experience
Required: With medical dosimetry education no experience required. Three years of current and continuous medical dosimetry experience may substitute for required education on a one to one basis.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html