Research Fellow or Research Scientist – biomedical optics

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the largest research universities in the country, located in a vibrant city with many desirable features for living. The Department of Medical Physics was established as a specialty focus within the School of Medicine and Public Health, creating the first and only basic science department of its kind in the country based within a medical center. This research intensive department has approximately 30 core faculty and over 70 affiliate, adjunct and honorary faculty members, many with cross or affiliate appointments in one or more clinical departments, including Radiology, Human Oncology, Psychiatry, and Medicine. Several faculty also have cross appointments in the School of Engineering, through Biomedical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Work in the department ranges from basic discovery and invention, through to research products and methods production, to clinical trials and industry collaboration and translation.

A researcher with a PhD is sought in the area of optical imaging and spectroscopy, with solid computer programming skills, with an interest in advancing devices for diagnostics or surgical guidance technology. A suitable technical person should have some ability in instrument control, MATLAB or Python experience, and will utilize components from Ocean Insights. Projects will involve collaboration with life science lab members to carry out tests in cancer imaging and treatment studies. Instruments will include spectroscopy systems, molecular probes, fluorescence in surgery instruments. The candidate should be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, and co-supervising undergraduate students, as appropriate to carry out the work.

The work is within an NIH funded research laboratory, directed by Dr. Brian Pogue, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medical Physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The work is located in the Wisconsin Institute of Medical Research in the medical complex. Developments will be in imaging technologies such as molecular sensing for tissue function and surgery. The position will involve collaboration with rodent and human surgeries and or cancer treatment in radiation therapy. Drafting manuscripts for peer-reviewed papers and presenting final results at international conferences is expected; The successful applicant must have excellent scientific, writing, organizational, record-keeping, and problem-solving skills, commensurate with becoming a future faculty member or leader in industry.