Job description

This clinical research fellow position is funded by a 5-years British Heart Foundation programme grant entitled ¨ Detection of High-Risk Plaque with Tropoelastin-Specific and Multicontrast Coronary MRI¨.  The candidate will work in an interdisciplinary team consisting of physicists, engineers, computer scientists, biologists, chemists, and clinicians to validate novel MR contrast agents and imaging techniques for the non-invasive detection of high-risk coronary plaque. The candidate will be in charge of obtaining ethics for the clinical studies and will lead the first in human study of a novel plaque specific contrast agent. Moreover, he will be in charge of the clinical evaluation of a novel non-contrast coronary lumen and plaque imaging sequence in patients with stable and unstable coronary artery disease. The clinical studies will be performed in close collaboration with industry (Siemens Healthineers) with whom we are developing prototype MR sequences for rapid clinical translation. Moreover, the candidate may be involved in a multicenter study of coronary MR angiography. The research team is located at St Thomas´ Hospital in the Department of Biomedical Engineering which has access to 10 state-of-the-art clinical research scanners with field strengths varying from 0.55T, 1.5T, 3T to 7T.  We will be closely collaborating with the cardiac CT and interventional cardiologists at St Thomas´Hospital.   

The successful applicant will be closely supervised by Prof René Botnar and Prof. Claudia Prieto at the School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences and will be part of a vibrant research team of 20 PhD students and postdocs. 

Located in the heart of London, King’s is the hub of a global network of strong academic connections and collaboration, with prestigious international partnerships within and across disciplines – scientific and medical, social and creative. King’s is investing in the highest calibre of talent to drive the university forward to achieve its greatest potential. The very best from the United Kingdom and across the globe are invited to join King’s. We are looking for a strong commitment to teaching and research, to push the boundaries of knowledge, influence the future and create a lasting impact. 

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 3 years 

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

•        Overseeing a first in human PET/CT and PET/MR study for the clinical validation of a novel plaque specific imaging probe.  

•        Clinical evaluation of a novel non-contrast MR coronary plaque and lumen imaging sequence in patients with stable and unstable coronary artery disease.  

•        Obtaining ethics for the above studies.  

•        Achieve the above objectives in a coordinated way by effective teamwork and collaboration with colleagues. 

•        Contribute to the development and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the department 

•        Attend and, as appropriate, present research findings and papers at internal and external academic meetings, seminars and conferences and to contribute to the internal and external visibility of the Department. 

•        To contribute to the production of research reports and publications. 

•        To engage in integrative and original research and produce written research outputs, as set out in the research project. 

•        To undertake any other reasonable duties that are relevant with the Role Outline. 

•        Liaise with colleagues and students. 

•        Contribute to the integration and collaboration of research projects with other branches of the group and with external collaborators. 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria  

1.      Medically trained in Cardiovascular Medicine, Radiology or similar.  

2.      Experience with Cardiac CT 

3.      Experience with Coronary X-ray Angiography 

4.      Presenting scientific research in the form of papers, posters and oral presentations 

5.      Working as part of a multidisciplinary research team, relying on and supporting others effectively 

6.      Excellent verbal and written communication skills 

Desirable criteria

7.      Experience with Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging 

8.      Experience with Cardiac Nuclear Imaging 

9.      Applying specialist knowledge in the context of medical imaging 

Further information

If further information is required, please contact   rene.botnar@kcl.ac.uk