Postdoc in Retrospective dosimetry in Antagonistic Radiation Exposures

Description of the work place

The Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö belongs to the Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at Lund University. At the department, research is carried out on i.a. MRI, CT, mammography, nuclear medicine, radiation protection and environmental radiology.

The environmental radiology group at Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö has for many years conducted research aimed at studying ionizing radiation in our environment and how radiation doses to humans and biota can be measured and calculated. A central part of this is the development and improvement of measurement methods for determining ionizing radiation to humans in connection with radiological and nuclear emergencies.

Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö has its physical workplace at Skåne University Hospital in Malmö and a total of approximately 40 colleagues work at Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö, of which 6 colleagues in the Environmental Radiology group. The group also has a very close connection with the environmental physics group at the Department of Physics in Lund, consisting of 4 colleagues. The environmental radiology group has several different laboratories in connection with its office premises at Scania University Hospital, Malmö. In the same way, the BAR group's laboratory is connected to its office premises at the Department of Physics, Lund.

Within the research group, we protect a good working environment with respect and consideration in our relationships with each other, and strive for a workplace that is experienced as developing and stimulating for all employees. We constantly work to create conditions for job satisfaction, development and participation for all employees. We protect both physical safety and the psychosocial work environment.

Project description

The postdoctoral position is linked to a sub-project in a larger research project, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Community Safety and Preparedness (MSB), with a focus on preventive measures against antagonistic use of dangerous substances in the public environment. In the project, special focus will be placed on the use of radioactive substances and the radiation protection issues that arise for the public and personnel in connection with the suspected spread of radioactivity. In collaboration with the Total Defense Research Institute, the postdoctoral researcher must develop methods to demonstrate with various physical detection techniques/detectors if personnel and members of the public have been exposed to ionizing radiation, as well as by measuring these detectors to validate the model calculations to be developed by yhe Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI). The detection methods are linked to what are internationally referred to as folk dosimeters and citizen science, and which have been applied in e.g. in Japan after the Fukushima accident in 2011.

The project will include close collaborations with colleagues in the Total Defense Research Institute in Umeå, as well as in Örebro University.

Work duties and responsibilities

At Lund University, employment as a postdoctoral fellow should provide the opportunity for scientific and pedagogical merit. In the first place, space is given for qualifications in research, but also for certain university pedagogical training. Teaching can also be included in the duties.

You will work both theoretically and experimentally. You will need to understand and interpret radiation dose calculations from FOI to materials and tissue, and translate these into theoretical detection limits for various radiation-sensitive sensors, mainly thermo-optical luminescent detector (TLDs/OSLDs) materials such as Lithium Fluoride and Sodium Chloride. Based on these calculations, a number of suitable recommendations for dose assessments must be developed that can be used for the reconstruction of radiation doses to the public and rescue personnel in antagonistic events involving radioactive substances. The methods of dose assessment must include the appropriate choice of packaging, calibration chain, handling and evaluation. You will also need to prepare, calibrate and evaluate radiation detectors for experimental validation of computational models developed by FOI. The experiments may also include robotic or UAV-borne detectors.

Teaching (mainly laboratories for undergraduate students) and supervision of students may be included. You are also expected to participate to a limited extent in practice and training within the national expert support for radiation protection preparedness.

Qualifications

Requirements for the position are:

• doctoral degree or equivalent foreign degree in one or more of the following fields: medical radiation physics, nuclear physics, or applied physics. The doctoral degree must be completed at the latest at the time when the employment decision is made
• good ability to develop and carry out research of good quality
• pedagogical ability
• good knowledge of the interaction of ionizing radiation with matter
• good knowledge of radiation dosimetry
• very good ability to communicate in English and Swedish, both in writing and speaking
• good organizational skills
• very good collaboration skills and experience of working effectively in an interdisciplinary environment

Meritorious for the position are:

• mainly applicants who have completed their degree no more than three years before the application deadline will be considered
• experience of working with personal dosimetry
• experience of working with retrospective dosimetry
• experience in publication of work in scientific journals
• experience in Monte-Carlo simulations of radiation particle transport
• interest in pedagogy and supervision
• good ability to communicate in English, both in writing and speaking
• good ability to independently follow set timetables and deliver in accordance with them
• experience of interdisciplinary studies
• Driving license BE

The assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their scientific merits and potential as researchers. Special weight will be attached to scientific ability in the subject area.

Work with us

Lund University is a state authority, which means you get special benefits, generous holidays and a favorable occupational pension.

Read more on the university's website about being employed by us.

This position will offer a valuable hub into the national and European research community in radiation protection with a focus on preparedness and civil defense. The fulfilment of the goal of the project will lead to a demonstration of how novel dosimetry assessment techniques can be introduced as a tool for the rescue services and emergency management in general. Thanks to the collaboration with Örebro University it will also provide a scientific insight into prerequisites for the risk communication during an emergency.

Terms/Conditions

The employment is limited to two years, 100%, with a start date according to agreement, but no later than 31st of March, 2025.
The employment is time-limited according to the agreement "Agreement on temporary employment as a postdoctoral fellow", between the labor market parties (Employer's Office, OFR's, Saco-S and SEKO) dated 01-01-2022. Employment at Lund University is conducted in Sweden, you are therefore expected to be able to carry out your work on site in Malmö. Travel, in particular to Umeå and Örebro, and to other Swedish universities will occur.

Miscellaneous

Interviews will be conducted in our premises in Malmö during weeks 4-6, 2025.

This is how You apply

The position is applied for via the university's recruitment system. The application must include a cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position and how the position matches your qualifications. The application must also contain a CV and a degree certificate as well as anything else you wish to refer to (copies of grades, information for references