Research Associate In Proton Therapy Detector Development

Overview

The University of Manchester is offering a fixed-term position for a Research Associate within the Division of Cancer Sciences. This role involves working on a short-term translational pilot project dedicated to developing and evaluating a novel time-of-flight detector system for in-vivo range verification in proton beam therapy. The appointee will operate closely with partners at The Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and conduct experimental work inside the proton research facility. The employment runs as a fixed-term contract from 13th December 2026 until 31st March 2027.

Who can apply

Candidates must hold, or be near completion of, a PhD in engineering, physics, medical physics, or a closely related field. Applicants need to bring relevant experimental research experience in radiation physics, instrumentation, or detectors. Furthermore, candidates must display strong analytical and data handling abilities, experience conducting independent experimental research, and the capability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary team. Additional experience in fast timing techniques, proton therapy, clinical research settings, or Monte-Carlo methods is considered an advantage.

What you get

The position provides a salary of 38,448 British Pounds per annum. Additional benefits include 29 days of annual leave plus bank holidays alongside a Christmas closure period, a generous employer contribution pension, and access to an electric vehicle car scheme and a ride-to-work program. The role also grants direct access to specialist infrastructure for proton therapy research and collaboration with a major UK cancer centre.

Requirements

The selected candidate will be tasked with designing, constructing, and optimising a prototype range probe based on time-of-flight that integrates timing electronics and ultra-fast silicon detectors. Responsibilities include planning and executing experimental measurements at the proton therapy research facility to calibrate against proton range and to characterise detector performance and timing resolution. The role requires conducting validation studies using appropriate phantom models while comparing the results against established clinical systems and detectors. Additional duties involve interpreting and analysing experimental data to evaluate system precision, uncertainty, and performance against the project goals, alongside working collaboratively with technical, clinical, and academic colleagues across both The University of Manchester and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 27/10/2026. The contract duration spans from 13th December 2026 to 31st March 2027.