Medical Physics jobs in Alberta

Description

Area: Surgical Simulation

Duration: 1 year, with possibility of extending to 2 years

Start Date: As soon as possible

Salary: $70,000CAD per annum, plus University of Calgary Plan C health benefits

The Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery) in the Cumming School of Medicine and Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in Surgical Simulation and Soft Tissue Biomechanics.

SCULPT (Surgical Computation and Ultrarealistic Learning Platform for Training) is a multidisciplinary research program that unites expertise across Otolaryngology ¿ Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS), Plastic Surgery, Biomedical Engineering, Computational Mechanics, Computer Science, and Medical Education to advance surgical training in head and neck oncology and reconstruction. SCULPT is made possible through a founding partnership between the Ohlson Research Initiative (ORI) and researchers in Biomedical Engineering (BME) at the University of Calgary. Building on early work, the program will develop high-fidelity biomechanical models of head and neck soft tissues, a scalable simulation platform, and a competency-based educational curriculum for surgical trainees.

The program is led by Dr. Fatemeh Ramazani (Program Director, OHNS). Founding BME collaborators include Dr. Salvatore Federico (continuum modelling and finite element analysis) and Dr. Taisiya Sigaeva (soft tissue mechanics). As a member of SCULPT, under the primary, joint supervision of Drs. Ramazani and Federico, the postdoctoral fellow will serve as the scientific bridge between computational modelling and clinical simulation and will contribute to research that advances surgical education and training in head and neck surgery.

Within this role, the postdoctoral fellow will be encouraged and supported to build and strengthen their independent program of research. Within this environment, the successful applicant will be expected to apply for external awards locally and nationally. The primary purpose of this role is to advance the computational science and simulation underpinning the SCULPT platform. The postdoctoral fellow will, under the guidance of the Principal Investigators, lead and contribute to research including translating the biomechanical modelling outputs into the simulation environment, contributing to scholarly dissemination (through papers and presentations at scientific conferences), and assisting with the development of funding applications.

Given that SCULPT is founded on principles of multidisciplinary collaboration, the postdoctoral fellow will also liaise with all relevant stakeholders throughout the research process. Specific duties are listed below.

Job Description:

• Collaborate with the Biomedical Engineering team on the development, validation, and refinement of biomechanical models of head and neck soft tissues
• Translate computational modelling outputs into simulation-ready educational frameworks
• Contribute to experimental research characterizing the mechanical properties of soft tissues, including study design, data acquisition, and parameter validation
• Work with the software engineering team on integration of models into the simulation environment
• Participate in design and development of research processes including identification of methodologies, generation of detailed research protocols and procedures, and data analysis
• Lead and contribute to writing of peer-reviewed manuscripts and presentation of findings at provincial, national, and international scientific meetings
• Assist with writing grant applications and completing research ethics applications
• Collaborate and work with internal and external stakeholders, establishing and maintaining effective, productive relationships with staff, peers, supervisors, and the campus community
• Manage time effectively and ensure Principal Investigators are kept informed of activities and progress of work
• Demonstrated strong communication, teamwork, and an ability to exercise judgment within established guidelines

Qualifications:

• PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in Biomedical, Civil or Mechanical Engineering, or Computational Science or a closely related field, completed within 5 years of the beginning of the appointment; if the degree is still pending it must be awarded before the start date
• Demonstrated experience in computational modelling, finite element analysis, large-deformation Continuum Mechanics, and biomechanical simulation
• Experience in experimental work is an asset
• Previous experience or demonstrated interest in surgical simulation, soft tissue biomechanics, or medical device research is an asset
• Experience with VR/AR platforms or human-computer interfaces is an asset
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team

Application Details:

Selection and hiring of the Postdoctoral Fellow will be adjudicated by a formal Search and Selection Committee constituted by the Program Steering Committee (PSC) in accordance with University of Calgary guidelines.
All applications must include:

• A brief cover letter including date of availability, suitability and motivation for the role, including your interest in this project, relevant qualifications or experience, and a general research/goals statement
• A current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Names and contact information for three references

Applications and inquiries should be directed to Dr. Fatemeh Ramazani, Program Director, SCULPT, Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology ¿ Head and Neck Surgery), University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine.

The terms and conditions of employment are covered under the UCalgary and PDAC Collective Agreement. To find out more about postdoctoral scholar program at the University of Calgary visit our Postdocs website.

To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Postdoc Careers website.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders' in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

With a growing urban Indigenous population of approximately 50,000 people, there are several Indigenous organizations and many events and ceremonies taking place in the city throughout the year.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments (oic@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).