Ref Number
B04-07696
Professional Expertise
Research and Research Support
Department
UCL BEAMS (B04)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
See advert text
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
Hybrid
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
15-Aug-2026
The UCL Healthcare Biomagnetics Laboratory, located within the Royal Institution of Great Britain building on Albemarle Street in Mayfair, is a unique cross-faculty and cross-disciplinary research centre in the heart of London. Established in 2008 under the aegis of a long-established collaboration between UCL and the RI, the Laboratory continues today as a centre of excellence in the biomedical applications of (mostly) magnetic nanomaterials.
One of the Flagship Projects that members of the Laboratory are currently engaged in is the development of a targeted therapy to deliver therapeutic doses of thermal energy into or adjacent to cancerous tumours, both as a monotherapy and as an adjunct to standard-of-care chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. The thermal therapy uses a special type of iron-oxide-based injectable magnetic material that can be made to heat up in situ via the application of a time-varying magnetic field. As part of this work, a new type of remote thermometry is being explored (to enable dose-response monitoring) that is based on the use of quantum-enabled optically pumped magnetometry (OPM) to measure magnetic relaxometry (MRX) signals from the embedded magnetic nanoparticles.
Applications are invited for an experienced Short-Term Lead Scientist to join our team on this exciting project. This 6-month fixed-term position is part of the EPSRC-funded Q-Biomed project, which aims to bring quantum-enabled technologies into mainstream clinical applications. The key responsibility of the postholder will be to devise, instigate, and lead a Strategic Priority Sprint Module, drawing on and directing the expertise of existing team members to make significant and timely steps towards the technical development of a full-size OPM-MRX system suitable for large-animal preclinical studies and clinical investigations.
This is a very high priority objective for the team, as the prototype OPM-MRX system is needed as soon as possible for testing and integration purposes.
- This is a fixed-term role until 31-Mar-2027 in the first instance.
- Please note that the earliest start date for this role is 01-Sep-2026.
The successful applicant will have a PhD in physics or engineering or a closely allied subject, and extensive working knowledge and personal experience in both optically pumped magnetometry and magnetic relaxometry.
They will have excellent organisational and communication skills. They will have a strong understanding of the underlying physics of: quantum sensing using optically pumped magnetometers; magnetic nanoparticles and fluids; and magnetic relaxometry. They will also have proven skills and abilities in systems engineering and the designing and building of prototype devices using advanced magnetometric sensors.
They will have a demonstrable interest in finding ways to successfully work with the extended UCL and Q-Biomed Hub community on cross-discipline projects.
It is desirable, but not essential, that they will have direct experience in the device-based integration of OPM and MRX. It is desirable, but not essential, that they will be able to provide evidence of leadership skills.
Your application should include a CV and a Cover Letter: In the Cover Letter please evidence how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification part of the Job Description. Please upload this in the cover letter attachment section of the application form. By including a Cover Letter, you can leave blank the 'Why you have applied for this role' field in the online application form, which is limited in the number of characters it will allow.)
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
- 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
- Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Immigration loan
- Relocation scheme for certain posts
- On-Site nursery
- On-site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.
These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people.
- Our department holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality.
You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
