Job description and selection criteria

The role

As a senior scientist and group leader, you will be primarily responsible for the day to day running of the research laboratory. Please describe in your cover letter if you have any experience of supervising staff, managing a research budget, and/or preparing successful grant applications. We are seeking applicants with a with proven track record of accomplishment in the following areas of expertise:

• Contrast enhanced photo-acoustic imaging,
• Photo-acoustic therapy (HIFU, laser ablation),
• Multi-functional contrast agents,
• Industrial ultrasonics or ultrasound assisted bioremediation,
• General physical acoustics and cavitation physics.

This project is the first step in the process of establishing a world-class basic and applied research program in the applications of physical acoustics principles to a range of problems in industrial and biomedical ultrasonics, based at the Oxford-Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research (OSCAR). The job will involve establishing a new laboratory, launching new research initiatives, growing research partnerships with colleagues, and engaging in collaborative sponsored research with external academic and industrial partners.

Reporting to Prof. Ronald A. Roy, Head of the Dept. of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, and working closely with Dr Jason Raymond, Senior Research Associate in the Department, the post holder will adopt a leadership role in setting up the laboratory and help lead a research program broadly based in industrial and biomedical ultrasonics, with initial emphasis on photoacoustics, laser ultrasonics, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and acoustic cavitation. The post holder will be a founding member of a new research group and will provide day-to-day supervision of research assistants, serve as a bridge between parallel research efforts based in Oxford and Suzhou, and will interact with partners within the Oxford-Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research.

The successful candidate will possess a doctorate in a relevant field with experience in one or more of the following areas: experimental physical acoustics, photoacoustics, laser ultrasonics, industrial ultrasonics, HIFU, and acoustic cavitation. Knowledge of laser optics and/or biomedical ultrasound imaging is desirable.

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement, including a brief statement of research interests, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

Travel to Oxford, UK as well as international conferences is anticipated.

Informal enquiries can be directed to Prof. Roy or Dr. Jason Raymond, email: ronald.roy@eng.ox.ac.uk, jason.raymond@eng.ox.ac.uk

Responsibilities

• Develop a physical acoustics research lab equipped to address problems in industrial and biomedical ultrasonics, with specific emphasis on acoustic cavitation and physical effects at the interface between light and sound (photoacoustics, etc.)
• Develop research questions within a specific context, conduct individual research, analysing detailed and complex qualitative and/or quantitative data from a variety of sources, and generate original ideas by building on existing concepts.
• Develop, establish, and pursue appropriate analytical protocols and techniques to support research.
• Collaborate in the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles. Present papers at national conferences, and lead seminars to disseminate research findings.
• Use scientific equipment in a laboratory environment.
• Assist with supervision of research assistants where appropriate.
• Contribute to the day-to-day running of an experimental laboratory.
• Carry out collaborative projects with colleagues in partner institutions, and research groups.

Additional duties:

• Working with the Oxford group, establish clear task objectives, organise, and delegate work to other members of the team and coach other members of the group on specialist methodologies or procedures.
• Raise research funds through grant applications, and manage own area of a larger research budget.
• Share responsibility for shaping the research group’s plans and the writing of group-funding applications for new research projects.
• Liaise with funding bodies and provide information to project stakeholders and represent the research group at external meetings/seminars, either with other members of the team or alone.

Selection criteria

Essential

• Hold a relevant Ph.D/D.Phil with post-qualification research experience.
• High degree of competence in experimental work involving acoustic measurements, including experience in the generation and measurement ultrasound waves and the use of ultrasound imaging instrumentation.
• Good oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research projects and methodologies.
• Strong evidence of research achievement to date, as might be demonstrated by a good publication record and/or academic distinctions and conference prizes.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: physical acoustics, photoacoustics, laser ultrasonics, industrial ultrasonics, HIFU, and acoustic cavitation.
• Experience supervising staff, managing a research budget, and preparing successful grant applications.

Desirable

• Expertise in biomedical ultrasound imaging technologies and methodologies.
• Experience with laser optics, optical detectors, and physical optics instrumentation.
• Experience working with biological samples and tissue phantoms.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary team of researchers with a variety of both physical and life sciences backgrounds.

Job description and selection criteria

The role

The Physical Acoustics group at OSCAR is encouraging highly qualified applicants to join our research group. We are seeking applicants with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Contrast enhanced photo-acoustic imaging,
• Photo-acoustic therapy (HIFU, laser ablation),
• Multi-functional contrast agents,
• Industrial ultrasonics or ultrasound assisted bioremediation,
• General physical acoustics and cavitation physics.

You will be part of a team working on the development of novel technologies and translational research applications in therapeutic ultrasound, photo-acoustic imaging, and industrial ultrasonics.

This project is the first step in the process of establishing a world-class basic and applied research program in the applications of physical acoustics principles to a range of problems in industrial and biomedical ultrasonics, based at the Oxford-Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research (OSCAR). The job will involve establishing a new laboratory, launching new research initiatives, growing research partnerships with colleagues, and engaging in collaborative sponsored research with external academic and industrial partners.

Reporting to Prof. Ronald A. Roy, Head of the Dept. of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, and Dr Jason Raymond, Senior Research Associate in the Department, the post holder will help lead a research program broadly based in industrial and biomedical ultrasonics, with initial emphasis on photoacoustics, laser ultrasonics, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and acoustic cavitation. The post holder will be a founding member of a new research group and will provide day-to-day supervision of research assistants, serve as a bridge between parallel research efforts based in Oxford and Suzhou, and will interact with partners within the Oxford-Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research.

The successful candidate will possess a doctorate (or be near completion) in a relevant field with experience in one or more of the following areas: experimental physical acoustics, photoacoustics, laser ultrasonics, industrial ultrasonics, HIFU, and acoustic cavitation. Knowledge of laser optics and/or biomedical ultrasound imaging is desirable.

Travel to Oxford, UK as well as international conferences is anticipated.

Informal enquiries can be directed to Prof. Roy or Dr. Raymond, email: ronald.roy@eng.ox.ac.uk, jason.raymond@eng.ox.ac.uk

Responsibilities

• Develop a physical acoustics research lab equipped to address problems in industrial and biomedical ultrasonics, with specific emphasis on acoustic cavitation and physical effects at the interface between light and sound (photoacoustics, etc.)
• Help to articulate research questions within a specific context, conduct individual research, analysing detailed and complex qualitative and/or quantitative data from a variety of sources, and generate original ideas by building on existing concepts.
• Develop, establish, and pursue appropriate analytical protocols and techniques to support research.
• Collaborate in the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles. Present papers at national conferences, and lead seminars to disseminate research findings.
• Use scientific equipment in a laboratory environment.
• Assist with supervision of research assistants where appropriate.
• Contribute to the day-to-day running of an experimental laboratory.
• Carry out collaborative projects with colleagues in partner institutions, and research groups.

Selection criteria

Essential

• Hold a relevant Ph.D/D.Phil (or near completion.
• High degree of competence in experimental work.
• Good oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research projects and methodologies.
• Strong evidence of research achievement to date, as might be demonstrated by a good publication record and/or academic distinctions and conference prizes.
• Experience working in one or more of the following areas: physical acoustics, photoacoustics, laser ultrasonics, industrial ulterasonics, HIFU, and acoustic cavitation.

Desirable

• Expertise in biomedical ultrasound imaging technologies and methodologies.
• Experience with laser optics, optical detectors, and physical optics instrumentation.
• Experience working with biological samples and tissue phantoms.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary team of researchers with a variety of both physical and life sciences backgrounds.
• Prior experience of instrument interfacing and control and data processing, ideally using Matlab.
• High degree of competence in experimental work involving acoustic measurements, including experience in the generation and measurement ultrasound waves and the use of ultrasound imaging instrumentation.