Research Officer

**Research Officer**:
The Fedoruk Centre was established in 2011 under the _Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act_, with an independent Board of Directors and a sole Member, the University of Saskatchewan (U Sask). The purpose of the Fedoruk Centre is to help place Saskatchewan among global leaders of nuclear research, development and training through investment in partnerships with academia and industry. The Facility is owned by the University of Saskatchewan, and operated by the Fedoruk Centre. The facility encompasses a high-current ACSI TR24 cyclotron; cGMP-level radiopharmaceutical laboratories including hot cells, auto-synthesis units and a quality control system (HPLC, GC, TLC); a suite of shielded work areas with radiochemistry equipment; two small-animal PET-CT scanners for preclinical research; and a suite of tools for nuclear imaging of living plants. Besides serving as a resource for academic and industrial researchers, the Facility supplies fludeoxyglucose (FDG) for PET-CT scanning in regional hospitals. The Facility is licensed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) as a Class II Nuclear Facility. Radiopharmaceuticals are manufactured in compliance with regulations of the CNSC and Health Canada.

**How to Apply**

Inquiries regarding these positions may be directed to:
Niki Schrie, Human Resources & Operations Manager

**Primary Purpose**: The Research Officer is responsible (a) to provide collaborative scientific support for researchers who access the specialized facilities at the Saskatchewan Cyclotron Facility and (b) to lead internal projects developing new products or infrastructures.

**Nature of Work**:Reporting to the Facility General Manager, the Research Officer is part of a team that maintains the Facility in a state of readiness for access by researchers from industry and academia to advance life sciences, technologies for health and agriculture, or innovations in the production of isotopes, radiochemicals and radiopharmaceuticals. Besides providing resources for innovation in or through nuclear imaging, the Facility also manufactures PET imaging agents for medical diagnoses and treatments in regional hospitals, which is an operational priority.

The Research Officer will serve as a professional Local Contact, enabling Facility users to undertake research projects effectively, adapting to the support levels required for a project, and coordinating the resources that may be needed for project planning, through implementation, analysis and reporting. The Research Officer will also serve as a Project Leader to advance the capabilities of the Facility by developing new products, procedures and scientific infrastructures.

The primary work environment is the suite of offices and labs in the Saskatchewan Cyclotron Facility at 120 Maintenance Rd, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

**Accountabilities**:

- Participating in planning and implementing user research projects that require access to Facility resources, considering safety, feasibility, project scope, scheduling and expert support;
- Collaborating with research users at a suitable level, for example training project team members in the safe operation of specialized equipment, analyzing data, and contributing to articles for scientific publications or patent disclosures;
- Communicating complex conceptual and technical ideas to both experts and non-experts, ensuring understanding and alignment between diverse stakeholders involved in strategically important projects;
- Leading internal projects to advance Facility capabilities, and performing activities, for example:

- Recommending equipment for procurement;
- Carrying out experimental work for establishing and validating technical specifications related to the development of nuclear substances;
- Conducting studies to optimize production parameters and methods for nuclear substances;
- Developing or improving equipment capabilities to address technical challenges in producing radiochemicals;
- Transferring knowledge from the development phase to operation or production teams;
- Maintaining knowledge of best practices for handling and analyzing radioactive materials;
- Helping to evaluate new technologies for potential development within the Facility;
- Preparing technical reports and articles for publication in peer-reviewed literature; and
- Participating in scientific conferences and meetings.
- Advising the Fedoruk Centre team and users to achieve best outcomes and minimize risks;
- Maintaining standards of quality and ensuring compliance with regulations; and
- Other related duties that support the core activities and mission of the Fedoruk Centre

**Qualifications**:
**Education**:PhD or Masters in engineering, physics or chemistry

**Experience**:

- At least three years of post-educational experience in a research laboratory supporting innovation with nuclear and/or particle accelerator methods is a requirement.
- Experience in radiation protection and safe handling of r